Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 22, 1993                   TAG: 9306220233
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

SUNDAY WRECK IN IRONTO KILLS 3

Susan Ramona Simmons, 26, of Roanoke, died at about 9 p.m. Sunday in Roanoke Memorial Hospital, about 75 minutes after her car was struck by a van on Virginia 603 near Interstate 81's Ironto exit.

The wreck also killed the driver of the van, Daniel W. Crook, 29, of Christiansburg, and Ruth Welcher Long, 82, of Elliston, who was riding in the backseat of Simmons' car. Simmons was engaged to Long's grandson.

Eunice Sink, 84, of Meadowbrook Nursing Home in Shawsville, another passenger in the car, was taken to Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem for treatment. She was in guarded condition in the intensive care unit Monday evening, a nursing supervisor said.

Crook's two children, a 6-year old son and 9-year-old daughter, were not seriously injured, state police said.

Trooper Steve Fijalkowski said the accident happened about 7:45 p.m. when the van ran off Virginia 603, hit a guardrail and then swerved back into the road, hitting Simmons' car in the driver's door.

Keywords:
FATALITY