THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050165
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
A woman who had just left a barbershop and was driving her son's car apparently lost control of the vehicle Saturday morning and rammed it into the shop, killing one woman inside and injuring five other people.
The accident occurred about 11 a.m. at the Midtown Barbershop in the 3100 block of South St.
Witnesses said the woman who was driving the car had just left the barbershop and had first backed the car up, striking a vehicle parked behind it. She then apparently changed gears and the vehicle, a Volvo, lurched forward, leaving tread marks in the parking lot.
The car rammed through a plate glass window at the front of the shop and rolled all the way inside, sending customers and employees charging for safety. Five people were injured and one woman, identified as Sharon Downey, 31, was pinned in the wreckage. She later died. Witnesses said Downey had taken her son to the shop for a haircut. The identity of the driver of the car was not available Saturday. It was unclear whether charges would be lodged against her.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITY INJURIES by CNB