THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701270204
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 23 lines
A 16-year-old Tangier Island girl was killed Saturday morning when the car she was a passenger in went out of control and struck a tree, police said.
The victim was identified as Rebecca D. Wheatley. Another Tangier Island resident, Paul R. Daley, 24, was identified as the driver of the car. He was treated at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. Route 17 and Dominion Boulevard.
Police said the Mercury Cougar Daley was driving was heading south on Route 17 when, just past Dominion Boulevard, he lost control for unknown reasons. The car went off the right side of the road initially, but when the driver tried to regain control he apparently over-corrected. The car crossed over the road and went off the left side, striking a tree.
Wheatley was not wearing a seat belt, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges had been filed as of Saturday evening.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITY