From Virginia State Police
Virginia State Police responded to 8 fatal crashes Saturday, Sept. 23 on Commonwealth roads, according to Public Relations Director Corinne Gellar. Following are details of four:
Orange County
Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash in Orange County. The crash occurred at 1:11 p.m., Saturday (Sept. 23), on Route 522, less than a mile south of Route 611.
A 2005 Ford F150 pickup truck was traveling north on Route 522 when it crossed the centerline and struck head-on a southbound 2012 Toyota Rav4.
The driver of the Ford pickup truck, a 50-year-old Culpeper, Va., man, was wearing a seatbelt and was transported to Culpeper Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Rav4, Glenn J. Higgins, 63, of Leesburg, Va., was flown to UVA Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. His wife and only passenger, Frances E. Higgins, 62, of Leesburg, Va., died at the scene. Both were wearing seatbelts.
Charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
Page County
Virginia State Police Senior Trooper D.W. Burkeholder is investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash in Page County. The crash occurred at 9:50 a.m., Saturday (Sept. 23), on Leaksville Road, less than a mile north of Boston Road.
A 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling on the wrong side of Leaksville Road, when its driver overcorrected to the right. The vehicle then ran off the road struck an embankment and overturned.
The driver, Brooke N. Ludwig, 16, of Stanley, Va., was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She died at the scene.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Also in Page County, Virginia State Police Master Trooper M.L. Mitchell is investigating a fatal crash. The crash occurred at 9:51 p.m., on Saturday (Sept. 23), on Mockingbird Lane.
A 2002 Ford Explorer was traveling west on Mockingbird Lane when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree.
The driver, Matthew R. Stark, 24, of Luray, Va., was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt.
His passenger, Christopher E. Stark, 26, of Luray, Va., was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He died from his injuries while in transport to Winchester Medical Center.
Matthew Stark was arrested for DUI.
The crash remains under investigation.
Warren County
Virginia State Police Trooper M.A. Lawson is investigating a fatal crash in Warren County. The crash occurred at 7:23 p.m., on Saturday (Sept. 23) on Route 340 near Snake Road.
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling south on Route 340 when it ran off the left side of the highway, went into the ditch and struck the embankment.
The operator, Charles D. Ford, 50, of Front Royal, Va., died at the scene. He was wearing a helmet.
Speed was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
