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CRASH KILLS 5-YEAR-OLD
Traffic fatality in Spotsylvania County
Date published: 6/30/2008
BY KAFIA HOSH
Virginia State Police are investigating a two-vehicle accident in Spotsylvania County Saturday night that killed a 5-year-old girl and injured several other people.
The crash occurred about 8:50 p.m. when a Pontiac G6 apparently turned into the path of a tow truck on U.S. 1 in the Massaponax area, State Police Sgt. Ted Jones said.
Lindsey Fillner, 28, of Sandston was making a left turn to access southbound Interstate 95 at the Spotsylvania--formerly Massaponax--interchange when her car was struck by a Ford F550 tow truck traveling north on U.S. 1.
Police said Fillner made the turn from a through travel lane, not the turn- ing lane. Information on whether the turning lane had a green arrow was not available.
No charges had been filed as of yesterday evening.
The 5-year-old victim, who was riding in the Pontiac, was taken to Mary Washington Hospital where she later died from her injuries.
A 7-year-old boy, and another 5-year old--the apparent twin sibling of the child who died--were also taken to Mary Washington Hospital. Police did not have information on whether the second 5-year-old was a girl or boy.
An 11-year-old girl in the Pontiac was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Fillner was taken to Mary Washington and later flown to Inova.
No additional information on their conditions was available yesterday.
The driver of the tow truck was a 32-year-old man who was traveling with his wife and two children, a 12-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl.
The boy and his mother were taken to Mary Washington Hospital, but police would not say how severe their injuries were.
Several drivers witnessed the accident and stopped to help.
Spotsylvania resident Michael Berry was stopped at a traffic light across from the accident scene. He said he saw the tow truck and the Pontiac collide. The truck pushed the car about 20 yards into a dirt lot adjacent to the I-95 on-ramp.
"From what I could see, the first point of impact was the passenger seat," Berry said. "It just happened so fast. It was shocking."
Berry pulled over to the side of the road and ran over to help the victims and call police.
He took Fillner's pulse and then looked over to see three children in the back seat "toppled all over each other. I mean it was a mass of legs and arms," Berry said.
Two Spotsylvania fire and rescue volunteers, who happened upon the scene, took the children out of the back seat until other first responders arrived. As they waited for assistance, they laid two unconscious girls on beach towels provided by bystanders, Berry said.
Kafia Hosh: 540/735-1977
Email: khosh@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Spotsylvania
Date published: 6/30/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Carseats?
(posted by
roth74va
, July 1, 2008 7:53 am)
I mean it was a mass of legs and arms," Berry said.
I would like to know if these children were properly secured in a carseat? This statement makes me think that they were not, and thus the mother should be charged! When are people going to learn to protect their own children, they depend on us to look out for them!!!
This Cannot Happen Here Again
(posted by
SusieJ
, June 30, 2008 7:09 pm)
I am deeply saddened to learn a little life was lost...and at
the very same location of my mother's accident that took
her life as well nearly 6 years ago. The way this accident
happened was nearly identical. What can be done to
reduce the chance of this happening again? Lower the
speed limit? My heart goes out the family. You're in my
thoughts and prayers.
heros
(posted by
calebsma
, June 30, 2008 1:40 pm)
I just want to say that this is a terrible thing that has happened to this poor family but i want to express how proud i am of the volunteers that werent even on call that and still stopped to help. It shows some good is left in some people. also it was actually 4 volunteers that stopped and helped not 2 all whom are which amazing brave men.
The poor families
(posted by
dicerotops
, June 30, 2008 9:23 am)
What a terribly, terribly accident. I'm so sorry to read this. How very sad. The poor children. How do you begin to explain your sibling, espcially your twin, is gone? And, honestly, I feel so much for the mother. She is never going to forgive herself for making such a dangerous manuever. It was stupid, and you know she is going to live with it every day of her life. How so very tragic.
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