ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 19, 1996 TAG: 9608190111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
Van driver passes out, crashes
LADYSMITH - A van carrying eight vacationers from Pennsylvania flipped on Interstate 95 in Caroline County after the diabetic driver passed out, killing his wife and severely injuring himself and his daughter.
The van crashed shortly after noon Saturday about three miles north of the Ladysmith exit.
Lynne Blassingame, 47, of Philadelphia, the mother of four of the six children in the van, was killed.
The wreck occurred as Travis J. Blassingame, 45, was driving back to Philadelphia after a visit to Williamsburg, state Trooper Austin White said.
Blassingame apparently became ill from too much insulin in his system and blacked out, causing the family's van to veer off the right side of northbound I-95 and flip three times
She and Travis Blassingame were the most seriously injured. He was flown by helicopter to MCV, White said. The two were in stable condition Sunday, a hospital spokesman said.
The four Blassingame children ranged in age from 9 to 16. Two family friends - a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy - were vacationing with the family.
- Associated Press
Queen Latifah joins Mozart, Beethoven
CHARLOTTESVILLE - The melodies of Mozart and Beethoven will soon mingle with the rhymes and rhythms of Queen Latifah and African drummers at the University of Virginia.
UVa's McIntyre Department of Music has hired two ethnomusicologists and plans to expand its course offerings, especially in the study of black music.
- Associated Press
Firefighters enjoy their day of play
HAMPTON - Firefighters from across Virginia met over the weekend to compete in contests that tested skills such as ladder climbing and donning fire gear.
The 110th annual convention of the Virginia State Firefighters Association started Wednesday and ended Saturday night. The first days of the meeting featured training sessions and other discussions, but Saturday was play day.
The firefighters from Dunlop, just west of Covington, came in first in the ``motor hose'' competition. In that event, firefighters drive their truck down a street, unfurl their hose and attach it to a fire hydrant.
``We're a rural fire department, and we don't have hydrants where we are,'' firefighter Shawn Matheney said. ``We beat them at their own game.''
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB