KING WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Crossing the double yellow line was a deadly mistake for a driver in King William County Monday.
Troopers shut down a portion of Route 30 in Mangohick for the better part of four hours after a violent crash which left a mangled mess in a ditch and a Med-flight whirring in the air.
Officials said 19-year-old Robert Mooney tried to pass two 18-wheelers, one of which was carrying a full load of lumber, police said.
When Mooney tried to pass the big rigs he ran head-on into a dump truck traveling east on Route 30, troopers said. The impact was so powerful, the car’s engine landed in a ditch on the opposite side of the road
Mooney died at the scene. Troopers said his mother, who was flown to VCU Medical Center, is recovering from serious injuries.
"Route 30 is ‘Route Death’ if you ask me,” said certified nursing assistant Sharina Jones. She and her mother, Clara Waller, rushed to the wreckage to see if they could help.
"The lady was moaning and groaning and trying to get out,” said Jones.
"We believe in Jesus Christ all the way,” said Waller. “ I told her to keep breathing. My heart goes out to the family."
Josh Dozier said he sees drivers try to pass slower vehicles all the time in this area despite the double line.
"Not everyone pays attention to the lines in because there are a lot of semis and they go slow,” said Dozier. “I guess some people get impatient and go around. But this is the risk, I guess.”
Troopers re-constructed the scene while residents looked on. The road was shut down for hours until it reopened around 8 p.m.
The closure left some parents with a lengthy walk to get their children off of the bus. They had to walk by the grisly accident scene, getting a tragic lesson on how dangerous the winding roads can be.
"It’s so sad,” said Waller. “I feel awful for everyone involved."
