4 dead after vehicle collision on Virginia road, police say – The Virginian-Pilot

SHEPPARDS, Virginia – Four motorists were killed when a car crossed the center line of a Virginia road and collided with oncoming vehicles, state police said Wednesday.

The multi-vehicle accident occurred shortly before noon on Tuesday south of the community of Sheppards in Buckingham County, about 113 kilometers west of Richmond.

Virginia State Police said in a news release that a Ford Fusion traveling south on U.S. Highway 15 went over the guardrail and collided with a northbound pickup truck. The Fusion then continued traveling the wrong way in the northbound lane before colliding head-on with a Nissan Versa. The Versa then left the road and overturned, the news release said.

According to police, Fusion driver Erika M. Henshaw, 77, of Dillwyn, and passenger Alvin P. Henshaw, 85, died at the scene, as did Versa driver Runping Z. Rhett, 66, of Alton, and passenger Eric D. Truscott, 37. The driver of the van was not injured.

The four dead were wearing seat belts, police said; investigations are ongoing.