THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509030121
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CINDY CLAYTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Two people were killed in a head-on collision Saturday morning on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a wreck that brought traffic to a grinding halt for thousands of motorists at the start of the Labor Day weekend.
Traffic was backed up for more than three hours and for more than two miles in each direction at the approaches to the 19-mile span. Traffic began moving again at 11:48 a.m., although authorities continued to urge motorists to use alternate routes for several hours because of the huge backups.
Three men in a Honda Accord station wagon were headed south about 8:30 a.m. near the 11-mile post on the bridge when the driver veered over into the northbound lane and slammed head-on into a Nissan Maxima. The drivers of both cars were killed, said Lorraine Smith, the bridge-tunnel spokeswoman.
No one in either car was wearing a seatbelt, Smith said. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident, she added.
The driver of the Maxima was identified as Debbie L. Silverman, 36, of Melrose Park, Pa. Riding with her were three teenagers, ages 13 to 15.
Two of the teenagers suffered minor injuries and were admitted to Virginia Beach General Hospital. The third teen was not hurt. Their names were withheld because of their ages.
Smith said the driver of the Accord was identified as Shadrik Curry, 24, of Paterson, N.J. The two passengers in Curry's car were identified as Tony Coles and Troy Green, both 29. They were in serious condition at Virginia Beach General.
Virginia Beach fire and rescue crews had to cut Silverman free from the wreckage of the crushed Maxima.
Both cars were totaled, but there was no damage to the bridge.
The accident is under investigation by bridge-tunnel police. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
TAMARA VONINSKI/Staff
One of two cars involved in the fatal collision Saturday is towed
from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITIES by CNB