Smithfield Man Charged With Reckless Driving after Trucker is Injured in Route 17 Multi-Car Crash in Isle of Wight

Police say a reckless driver caused an accident this morning on U.S. Route 17 in Isle of Wight County that involved a tractor-trailer and five other vehicles and injured the trucker.

The accident on Route 17 near Smiths Neck Road, blocked all northbound and southbound traffic close to the James River Bridge on Friday morning.

Sgt. Michelle Anaya of Virginia State Police said the accident at 7.22 a.m, was caused when the driver of a Toyota Tacoma from nearby Smithfield was traveling north on Route 17 when he suddenly changed lanes, causing the tractor-trailer driver to be run off the road.

The accident caused a chain reaction crash. The trucker, Darius E. Vaughan, attempted to avoid the Toyota, lost control of his big rig and overturned, police say.

Anaya said the Toyota driver then over-corrected to avoid the tractor-trailer, and struck two more cars. The big rig hit two other cars as it was overturning.

Vaughan was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Virginia State Police said the crash led to the closure of Route 17 near the James River Bridge in both directions. VDOT says drivers who were traveling northbound on Route 17 could instead take U.S. Route 258 (Brewers Neck Boulevard) to Route 32 and then U.S. Route 58 as an alternative.

Southbound travelers were re-directed onto Whippingham Parkway (Route 662) to Route 17 instead. Lanes were re-opened to traffic shortly before 11 a.m.

The driver of the Toyota was charged with reckless driving after the incident, Anaya said.

In Virginia 16 different actions can constitute reckless driving. They include speeding in excess of 80 mph, speeding more than 20 mph above the posted speeding limit, racing, passing an emergency vehicle, passing a school bus, failing to signal, passing at a railroad crossing or driving with an obstructed view.

When someone is cited for reckless driving, they often demonstrate a disregard for the rules of the road and may cause an accident with injuries or property damage. The driver normally has to do something more than mere negligence in the operation of a vehicle to be cited for reckless driving. A citation for reckless driving does not mean you are guilty.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a reckless driver you have a good case to make a claim from the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Call the attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyer at 757.455.0077 for a free consultation.