Tragic crash near Shenandoah claims three lives
A two-vehicle crash last Thursday afternoon on Route 340 in Page County, directly below Hogback Overlook in Shenandoah National Park, claimed the lives of three New Jersey visitors and injured two others, one seriously.
A 2008 Ford F-250 driven by a Virginia man was traveling south on Rt. 340 just north of Runyon Road when the driver lost control, crossed the center-line and collided head on with a northbound 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan, according to Virginia State Police Sergeant Brent Coffey of the Culpeper Division.
The driver of the Dodge, Gurmeet Singh, 44, and two of his three passengers — Jasleen Kaur, 38, and a 6- yearold girl — all of Carteret, N.J., which borders Staten Island, were pronounced at the scene. The driver and his passengers were all wearing seat belts.
Another passenger, an 11-year-old boy, was flown to UVA Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. All of the occupants were wearing seat-belts.
The driver of the Ford, Douglas W. Sours, 65, of Shenandoah, was transported to Winchester Medical Center with minor injuries. Sours was also wearing a seat-belt.
“The entire Carteret community is saddened by the tragic news that three of our neighbors lost their lives in a Virginia motor vehicle accident,” said Carteret Mayor Daniel Reiman in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased and to the 11-year-old survivor who is battling serious injuries.”
The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, said Coffey.
Shortly after that accident authorities responded to a motor vehicle crash on Route 211 at the Thornton Gap Entrance Station to the park, where there was heavy fog much of Thursday. No injuries were reported.
Minutes later a driver heading east on Route 211, just a few yards below the Thornton Gap station, struck a bear that went under the front of his pickup truck. The driver told park rangers and this newspaper that the shaken bruin managed to crawl out from beneath the truck and disappear into the woods.