THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 21, 1995 TAG: 9508210079
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Metro Briefs
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
The two drivers survived and were hospitalized but three passengers were killed early Sunday when a pickup traveling on the wrong side of the interstate slammed head-on into a Saab sedan.
State police are investigating whether alcohol was involved in the 2:48 a.m. wreck on Interstate 64 near the Lee Hall exit. No charges had been filed by Sunday night.
The three passengers in the car were declared dead at the scene: Ericka B. Bishop, 20, of Williamsburg; Brian C. Cothran, 22, of Forest; and Frank P. Engel, 21, of Yorktown.
The driver of the pickup, Raul E. Alcantara, 33, of Newport News, was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center. He was listed in serious condition Sunday night.
The driver of the Saab, Kathleen S. Gilbreath, 19, of Williamsburg, also was taken to Riverside, where she was treated for cuts and released. Of the five people in the two vehicles, she was the only one wearing a seat belt.
State police spokeswoman Tammy Van Dame said Alcantara was driving east in the westbound lanes, but it was unclear when or how he got on the highway going in the wrong direction.
Troopers rerouted westbound traffic around the accident scene to Fort Eustis Boulevard for about three hours.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITY by CNB