Eight people were seriously injured in a head-on collision between two vehicles on Friday, July 15, according to a report from Virginia State Trooper Kevin Mabe.
The accident occurred at 12:20 p.m. at the intersection of Rt. 8 south and Ashby Drive. A Dodge Durango traveling north on Rt. 8 crossed the center line into the path of a 2007 Ford Expedition, Mabe said.
All eight occupants of the two vehicles were injured, Mabe said.
Three emergency helicopters airlifted some of the victims to either Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. or Roanoke Carilion Hospital. Some were initially transported to Pioneer Community Hospital.
The victims were both adults and children, including a baby. Details about the injuries were not available.
A large contingent of emergency responders rushed to the scene, including the J.E.B. Stuart, CCDF, and Smith River rescue squads; the Patrick Springs and Stuart fire departments; Life Care; Steve Allen and Lemont Bryant of the Patrick County Office of Emergency Management; the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police.
The Patrick Springs VFD set up a landing zone for the helicopters at Rotary Field, said Allen, emergency management coordinator for Patrick County.
Pamela Snydor of Mount Airy, N.C., the driver of the Durango, was charged with failure to drive to the right side of the highway.
The driver of the Expedition was not identified.
