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Sunday morning crash kills four
If you know any of the victims and would be willing to speak with a reporter, please contact reporter Ellen Biltz. and include your phone number.
BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
Four people were killed early yesterday morning when the car in which they were riding was struck head-on about six miles east of Culpeper on State Route 3. A fifth person in the car, a 27-year-old man from Fredericksburg, survived the crash, as did the driver of the second vehicle. The accident occurred about 2:50 a.m. at the beginning of a curve along the only remaining two-lane section of Route 3. According to state police Sgt. Les Tyler, the 2004 Toyota Corolla in which the five were riding was heading east toward Fredericksburg when it was struck by a 2002 Chevy Tahoe that was on the wrong side of the road. The Tahoe was driven by 29-year-old Eugene Tyrone Green of Culpeper, the only occupant in the vehicle. Alcohol was a factor in the crash, Tyler said. Dead at the scene were 20-year-old Tyler Scott Harlow, the driver of the Corolla; 20-year-old Joseph Lee Sahnow; 19-year-old Tianna V. Jones; and 21-year-old James B. Cook. Harlow, Sahnow and Jones were all from Greene County, while Cook was from Marshfield, Vt. The only survivor in the Corolla was 27-year-old Howard John Steiniger of Fredericksburg. He was taken to Mary Washing Hospital and then transferred to VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Tyler said. Steiniger was sitting in the right rear seat of the vehicle. Green also was taken to Mary Washington Hospital, where he is being treated. Both Green and Steiniger were interviewed by state police investigators, Tyler said. He added that both front-seat occupants of the Corolla were wearing seat belts, but it is not certain whether the three people in the back seat were buckled up. No charges have been placed, but the investigation, led by Trooper Brent L. Boggess, is continuing. Route 3 was closed for about six hours yesterday while a state police accident reconstruction team investigated the scene. Members of the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office, the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department, the Culpeper Volunteer Fire Department, the Richardsville Rescue Squad and Culpeper Rescue Company 12 assisted at the scene, Tyler said. Donnie Johnston:
Remember this accident is still under investigation and no one has said who was drinking. Shouldn't assume!
How very sad for all the victims. The article doesn't say exactly who was drinking, but since Green's vehicle was the one on the wrong side of the road, it would appear it was him that at least caused the accident. Amazingly, he is the one that came out of it with his life in tact. Pretty lucky break for him, right?
Yep, once again, the drunk will say he's sorry and be out on the streets to do it again, much like the sex offenders, but the guy that robbed people gets sentenced to jail for 8 years.
We all know that the drunk driver will receive a slap on the whrist and will be out there doing it again while the families of the victims will have to live with the victims untimely death due to a drunk. Our laws are lax and favor the drunks. I just wonder when our government are going to have the B _ _ _ 's to stand up and do something about it with tougher laws, mandatory sentencing etc... Maybe when it gets personal and it happens too one of their own. Then it will be too late for them.
Four people gone due to one person deciding to drink and drive. No matter the charges filed, I think they'll bring little comfort to the victims' families.
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