After an 18-year-old woman lost her life in a car accident Tuesday, state police say they're investigating to see whether speed was a factor.

Route 42 in Augusta County has seen a race or two. Residents who live along the road, like Sylvia Griffin, can remember seeing motorists race, even as a child.

She says, "It's never really gotten to the point where it's out of control. When I was a teenager, my mother called the law about 2 a.m. one morning for racing but nothing was ever done about it."

State police say they are trying to crack down on racing now. First Sgt. Scott Van Lear says it's a dangerous crime, which is often committed by young people.

He says, "Typically, the most common thing we see in this area is for your younger generation, your early 20s, late teens."

Van Lear says most people don't realize just how often street racing occurs. While it frequently takes place on rural roads, he has seen it happen in other, more dangerous spots.

"We've seen it on the interstates. We've seen it on rural roads. We've seen it on primary roads in the county," says Van Lear. "So there are certain areas you see it more often and it tends to be patterned."