A major vehicle accident Saturday in James City County, attributed to racing on a street, caused three people to be hospitalized. It also caused the closure of westbound Richmond Road in the 8900 block for several hours in order to investigate.
According to Maj. Steve Rubino, James City County Police responded at 2:54 p.m. to the accident in Toano.
Preliminary investigation revealed that two vehicles were traveling westbound on Richmond Road at high speed. According to Rubino, a 1997 Volkswagen sedan, driven by a 31-year old Lanexa man, lost control near James City Recycling. The vehicle hydroplaned on the wet road, spun several times and struck a tree, ejecting the driver.
He was then run over and dragged approximately 4 miles by the second vehicle, a 1995 Honda sedan, which was driven by a 22-year old Providence Forge man. The driver of the Honda indicated that he had been racing with the driver of the VW and saw the vehicle crash when he ran over what he believed to be vehicle debris. It was not until he was alerted in New Kent County by another motorist that there was a body under his car that he stopped.
The VW driver was transported to MCV Hospital in Richmond for serious injuries. There were two passengers in his vehicle who were also injured.
On Sunday, Rubino said the driver had surgery last night but his current condition was unavailable.
An 8-year girl was also transported to MCV for non-life-threatening injuries, and an 8-year old boy was transported to Williamsburg Sentara Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Their relationship to the driver is not clear.
There was no indication that drugs or alcohol were a factor, Rubino said, but added that speed and road conditions were factors. No charges have been filed so far, but police expect to release more information Monday.
