Briefly… for Apr. 17-30, 2014
Three killed in accident in New Kent
The driver of a 1992 Toyota Tercel that was struck April 8 after the car pulled in front of a tractor-trailer on Route 155 at the entrance to Colonial Downs in New Kent County is being charged with reckless driving, according to state police.
The driver, Saul A. Hernandez-Gonzalez, 65, of the 9000 block of Suburban Village Lane in North Chesterfield, was the lone survivor among four men, all from North Chesterfield, who occupied the Toyota. The driver’s brother, identified as Julio C. Gonzalez-Hernandez, 61, who was seated in the front passenger seat and wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Also killed at the scene was a rear seat passenger, Javier D. Ferrer, 25, of the 6000 block of Amster Road, who was seated behind the deceased brother and not wearing a seat belt.
Another rear seat passenger, Jose A. Lopez-Velasquez, 26, of the 3000 block of Walmsley Blvd., was seated behind the driver and not wearing a seat belt. He was thrown from the vehicle and later died at VCU Medical Center in Richmond. The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken to VCU Medical Center where he remains for treatment.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, who has not been identified, was wearing his seat belt and not injured in the crash.
The accident occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. Investigators say the Toyota sedan pulled out of Kentland Trail onto Route 155 and into the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer southbound on Route 155. The tractor-trailer driver was unable to avoid the collision.
Molnar said that after consultation with the New Kent County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the driver of the Toyota was charged with reckless driving. The crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the Virginia State Police Accident Reconstruction Team and Motor Carrier Unit along with the New Kent County Sheriff’s Office.
Alcohol and speed are not considered factors in the crash. Route 155 southbound was re-opened at approximately 4:30 p.m.
PF VDOT repairs to last until August
Alternating lane closures and traffic delays on Route 155 (Courthouse Road) in Providence Forge are expected to continue through August to accommodate crews that are working to widen shoulders and improve drainage along the roadway, VDOT officials say.
Work is taking place 8 a.m.-4 p.m. between the Charles City County line and Old Forge Road. Crews are currently working on the stretch of Route 155 in front of Providence Forge Post Office.
NK suspect subdued with stun gun
A New Kent County man is being held in jail without bond following an incident at a local motel where the suspect allegedly tried to break into the motel’s office. When a sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene, the man allegedly charged at the officer, resulting in use of a taser weapon to subdue the suspect.
Glenn J. Lanno Jr., 43, was reportedly residing in one of the motel’s rooms at the time of the incident. He is charged with one count each of attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, being a peeping tom, and drunk in public.
According to a sheriff’s office report, Deputy Wyatt Johnston responded to a call around 3 a.m. on April 1 from an employee at the Star Motel, located on Route 60 (3800 Pocahontas Trail) east of Bottoms Bridge. The caller reported that someone was attempting to enter the motel’s office through a rear window.
Shortly after arriving on scene, Johnston encountered an unknown male. The man allegedly charged at Johnston, refusing to obey the deputy’s verbal commands. Johnston discharged his X26 taser weapon to stun and subdue the suspect.
The suspect is alleged to have been wearing a black ski mask when the incident began, the report said. The suspect also had a strong odor of alcohol about his person at time of arrest and appeared intoxicated, the report added.
The suspect received medical treatment administered on scene by New Kent Fire and Rescue before being transported to Henrico Jail East. Lanno appeared the next day for arraignment in New Kent General District Court where a judge ordered the suspect held without bond pending a May 13, 1:30 p.m. court appearance.
Two NK men face drug charges
Two New Kent men face drug charges after a county deputy sheriff, acting on a phone call concerning a suspicious vehicle, discovered the pair asleep in the vehicle parked on a road in the Quinton area.
Deputy Wyatt Johnston responded to the call around 9:30 p.m. on April 4, locating the vehicle on Poverty Hall Road. Inside, he found two men, identified as Evan Roy Sluder, 31, of the 5300 block of Adams Road in Quinton, and Winston Allen Kirby, 36, of the 3800 block of Poverty Hall Road, Quinton, apparently asleep.
According to a sheriff’s office report, Sluder, the driver, appeared intoxicated. Johnston charged Sluder with DUI (second offense in the past five years). Then a search of the vehicle led to more charges.
The search revealed narcotics, suspected to be heroin, and illegal drug material inside the vehicle and on Kirby’s person. Johnston subsequently charged both men with one count each of heroin possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The suspects were transported to Henrico Jail East. Kirby’s bond was set at $2,000 while bond was set at $1,500 for Sluder.
NK supervisors pass $1.5 million bond
New Kent’s Board of Supervisor voted 5-0 last Thursday to pass a resolution authorizing the issuance of up to $1.5 million in bond financing for the Route 249 waterline project.
The project extends lines from Farms of New Kent and Watkins Elementary School westward to connect with the Quinton Estates, Greenwood Estates, Kenwood Farms and Deer Lake subdivisions. Plans call for immediate advertising for bids with bid opening and awarding of a contract in mid-June. Work could commence 4-6 weeks later.
Superintendent search continues in CC
Charles City’s school board announced its second round of interviews for the position of school superintendent will be April 18-May 2.
Board members made the announcement at Tuesday’s night regular meeting. Chairwoman Helen Payne-Jones also announced that no decision has been made by the board to conduct an open forum for the public to meet potential candidates.
Paving slated for Interstate 64
VDOT has announced plans to commence with paving work on eastbound Interstate 64 through New Kent County, a project that is long overdue on the heavily traveled and badly deteriorated stretch of roadway. Officials said work was scheduled to begin this past Monday and could proceed into the summer. VDOT has another project in the works for New Kent. Concrete patchwork is scheduled to start June 1 on Route 60 through the county.
Correction
In a picture entitled “Destiny’s Journey opens” in the April 3 edition, the time for Saturday drama classes was listed incorrectly. The correct time for classes are every Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.