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Woman killed on I-95 northbound in Stafford by driver headed the wrong way on the interstate, police say Date published: 2/4/2010
By KELLY HANNON A Stafford County woman has been charged with DUI and involuntary manslaughter following a fatal wrong-way collision on Interstate 95. Vickie Lane Beach, 57, is accused of driving her 2010 Mercedes sedan south on northbound I-95 and causing the fatal crash near the Stafford Courthouse exit about 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Virginia State Police spokesman Sgt. F.L. Tyler said. The driver of the other car, Rachel T. Benezra, 55, of Staten Island, N.Y., was transported to Mary Washington Hospital, where she died shortly after 10 p.m., Tyler said. The Mercedes was westbound on Courthouse Road when it turned left onto the I-95 northbound off-ramp, Tyler said. The entrance ramp to I-95 southbound at Exit 140 is the next left. The driver "made the left turn too soon," Tyler said. The Mercedes proceeded south onto I-95 northbound, then crossed two lanes to the northbound left lane, Tyler said. The vehicle traveled less than a mile before hitting Benezra's 2005 Chrysler Sebring, which was heading north in the same lane, according to police reports. Beach was transported to Mary Washington Hospital with injuries. Police would not disclose the results of a blood alcohol test. Air bags deployed in both vehicles, and both drivers were wearing seat belts, Tyler said. The driver was the only occupant in each car, and no other vehicles were involved in the crash, Tyler said. It was snowing when the crash occurred, but there was no accumulation on the road surface, Tyler said. The left lane of I-95 northbound was closed for several hours while the state police Crash Reconstruction Team investigated. The center and right lanes reopened by 9 p.m.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
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