Investigation continues into fatal NK crash

An investigation is under way to uncover why a Chesterfield County man drove the wrong way on Interstate 64 in New Kent County resulting in an April 16 two vehicle, head-on crash and two fatalities. For now, authorities cannot say how long the man’s vehicle had been headed in the wrong direction.

Investigators say James E. Fred, 54, of the 14000 block of Walthall Drive, drove his 2004 Honda CRV westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-64 and collided head-on with a 1996 Ford Ranger pick-up driven by John J. Keesler, 47, of the 6000 block of Husting Road, also in Chesterfield.

“This is part of the ongoing investigation to determine when, how, and possibly why the driver of the Honda CRV was traveling the wrong way on I-64,” said State Police information officer Sgt. Thomas Molnar.

“Both of the deceased were transported to the medical examiner’s office [in Richmond] who will conduct an autopsy to determine if there were causative factors, meaning if there was a possible medical condition or if alcohol was a factor in the crash.” he said.

“We did not receive any [911] calls regarding the wrong way driver [before the accident],” he added.

Molnar said another driver witnessed the crash and alerted 911. He added that an accident reconstruction team has yet to determine the speed of the vehicles at the time of the crash.

Both drivers died at the scene near the 223-mile marker, just west of the James City County line. Both were wearing seat belts. No other occupants were in the vehicles.

The accident occurred around 10:30 p.m., closing both lanes of westbound I-64 for more than four hours. Lanes reopened around 3 a.m. the next day.