Rockingham County Accident

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Rockingham County
Posted: 8:28 AM Aug 6, 2008
Last Updated: 4:53 PM Aug 6, 2008

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State Police say an accident on Route 340 Wednesday morning has killed one person.

The Virginia State Police say 45-year-old James Robert Shifflett, Jr. of Elkton died at the scene of the crash about seven miles south of Elkton.

After reconstructing the accident, officials say one vehicle driven by 18-year-old Preston Scott Fitzwater of Weyers Cave ran off the road, over corrected and then hit Shifflett's car head on.

"They document every gouge, chip, grove, anything in this accident, any skid mark for any further prosecution that may occur and to document for any insurance purposes and for report purposes," says Sgt. Richard Hankins, Virginia State Police.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. Fitzwater was in surgery Wednesday for non-life threatening injuries at the UVA Medical Center. Charges against him are pending.

Police say it is unlikely speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

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Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 7, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I KNOW THE FAMILY OF PRESTON SCOTT FITWATER AND MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY ALSO MY WITH THE SHIFFLETT FAMILY MAY GOD BE WITH YOU IN THIS TIME FO SORROW

Posted by: wendy Location: grottoes on Aug 7, 2008 at 10:36 AM
to both families, we love you and you are all in our thoughts and prayers, both preston and jim have touched my family's lives and we are praying for safe recovery for preston and peace for kara and her family, remember kara you have you track family for support also !

Posted by: Susan Location: dayton on Aug 7, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Preston Fitzwater DOES have life threatning injuries sustained in this accident. Air life helicopters do not get called in to fly to UVA unless there is reason to believe it could be life threatning. He is on life support as we speek. Isn't that life threatning!!!

Posted by: Mike Location: Grottoes on Aug 6, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Please recheck the facts of this story frequently as they are changing. There are no charges pending against Preston at this time. The stress of this type of accident is extremely taxing on the family, muchless having to think about possible criminal charges in addition. In the future, please take more care in reporting the actual facts of certain stories rather than trying to 'scoop' other news agencies. This is a very trying time for both families involved and while they are looking for answers into how something this tragic has happened, they don't need any speculation on the part of an over zealous reporter.

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