Charges brought against driver whose vehicle collided with Sheri ’s cruiser
Rappahannock News sta The serious accident in Flint Hill on Sunday that involved a Rappahannock County Sheri ’s deputy has resulted in charges being led by the Virginia State Police against the other driver.
Raymond L. Gooch, 82, of the town of Washington, who su ered serious injuries in the accident, has been charged with failure to yield right of way to an emergency vehicle.
Virginia State Police Senior Trooper S. Riddle continues to investigate the two-vehicle crash that occurred at 12:55 p.m., as Gooch was pulling out of Settle’s Grocery & Garage on Route 522.
Responding to an emergency call, the 2011 Dodge Charger sheri ’s cruiser driven by Deputy Crystal Jenkins was traveling north through the village with its ashers and siren turned on when Gooch’s 2016 Mazda CX-3 attempted to make a le turn into the southbound lane.
“The deputy was unable to avoid striking the Mazda and the vehicles collided in the roadway,” according to State Police. “The sheri 's deputy was responding to an emergency call, and the vehicle had its emergency lights and siren activated.”
Gooch, a former Washington Town Councilman, was initially taken by ambulance to Fauquier Hospital for treatment, and then Sunday evening was transported to the ICU trauma unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he remains. He reportedly su ered multiple rib injuries and a broken pelvis and is said to be in considerable pain.
Deputy Jenkins also su ered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and was transported to Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton.
“She’s healing,” Sheri Connie Compton said Tuesday afternoon. “She’s sore, she’s got some bruises, but at this point she is still recuperating.”
Washington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Bobby Smoot said from the scene of the accident that it was “fortunate” both drivers didn’t su er more serious injuries. There was extensive damage to both vehicles, the airbags in each deployed.
The well-traveled highway,
which on Sunday carried carloads of leaf-peepers on what was a bright and sunny afternoon, was shut down in both directions until 2 p.m., as several local volunteer re companies, Rappahannock County Sheri ’s deputies, and Virginia State Police responded to the accident.
As a result, tra c was stopped for several miles on the north side
of Flint Hill between the village and Huntly. Some occupants stepped outside their vehicles to stretch their legs and even walk dogs. Others, including this reporter, walked a good distance to the accident scene. Vehicles heading north on 522 from Massies Corner were detoured in Flint Hill.
The crash remains under investigation.