BY ELLEN BILTZ
A man standing in the road was struck and killed in King George County this weekend in one of several fatal car accidents.
In Culpeper, a man was charged in the death of a woman. Her husband was injured.
In Louisa, a Fredericksburg man died when he hit a tree. His two passengers were injured.
In King George, a man standing in the middle of U.S. 301 Sunday night was struck by a car and killed, state police said.
Jose N. Alvarez, 38, of California, was hit while standing in the southbound right lane of the road about 9:30 p.m., said Sgt. Tom Cunningham of the state police.
He said Alvarez died in the ambulance on the way to a local hospital.
Cunningham said the driver of a 1997 BMW, David Mizelle, came upon Alvarez at night in an unlit area of U.S. 301, near Port Conway Road.
He said neither speed nor alcohol are suspected factors in the crash.
Mizelle, 42, is a resident of Tucson, Ariz., and was uninjured, Cunningham said. No charges were filed.
In Culpeper, a 31-year woman was killed Sunday evening and her husband was seriously injured after their car was hit nearly head-on by a pickup near Stevensburg on State Route 3.
Amity Stein Grace died at the scene and her husband, Aaron John Grace, 30, was flown to Fairfax Inova Hospital. As of yesterday, he was listed in fair condition.
A truck driver, 60-year-old Michael William Kilby of Lignum, was charged with driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter.
According to state police Sgt. F.L. Tyler, the accident occurred about 6 p.m. A 1999 Dodge pickup crossed the center line on the two-lane highway and hit the front driver's side of the 2000 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Amity Grace, Tyler said.
The Blazer overturned and the pickup ended up in a field on the north side of the highway.
Rich Dever of Stafford, who was first on the scene, said he had been following the truck for several miles before the accident occurred.
The truck "had passed me and several times had crossed over to the left in a construction zone and hit at least two [construction] barrels," Dever said.
All three people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts, Tyler said.
Amity Grace was a teacher in Madison County. Aaron Grace works in the Culpeper County IT department. According to a county spokesman, the couple had been married in April.
Kilby was not injured.
Route 3 was closed for about two hours following the wreck.
In Louisa, a Fredericksburg man died in the early morning hours Sunday when he crashed his 2001 Acura into a tree, said Cunningham of the state police.
Orlando D. Stewert, 32, had no seat belt on when he swerved off the left side of State Route 618, near Buckner Road and hit the tree, Cunningham said.
He said Stewert had two passengers in the car, neither of whom had seat belts on.
Kevin Payne, 43, of Louisa, was flown to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, Cunningham said. He was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Cunningham said Derek Payne, 27, had minor injuries and was taken to the University of Virginia for treatment.
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424