THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509240039
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Two people leaving a Baptist minister's retirement ceremony were killed and one other seriously injured Friday night when their van was struck by a pickup truck.
The driver of the 1976 Ford pickup was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, police said. He was identified as Jeffrey T. Askew, 41, of Hampton.
The accident occurred at 9:48 p.m. Friday at Oyster Point Road and Palmer Drive. The burgundy Dodge van was turning east onto Oyster Point Road when it was struck in the rear by the pickup. Askew was apparently traveling at the speed limit, police said.
The passengers in the van, all from the Richmond area, were just leaving the retirement ceremony at a Baptist church and were heading back to Richmond when the accident occurred. Four of the seven passengers were thrown from the van. They were not wearing seat belts, police said.
Francis P. Williams, 71, and Lucille Kuhn, 68, both of Richmond, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Dorothy Ortell, 72, of Mechanicsville, was thrown from the van's back hatch door, police said. Ortell was listed in serious condition Saturday in Riverside Hospital's intensive care unit, police said.
Lois Duke and Frances Patterson, both of Richmond, were listed in stable condition, police said.
Askew, who was wearing a seat belt, and the two remaining passengers in the van were treated for minor injuries, police said.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITIES ARREST
DRUNKEN DRIVING by CNB