DATE: Saturday, November 29, 1997           TAG: 9711290218

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   27 lines

VAN OVERTURNS ON I-64; PASSENGER DIES

A man was killed when a van overturned after trying to avoid hitting a car on Interstate 64 Friday afternoon, state police said.

The accident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. in the eastbound lanes near Interstate 264. The van, which had a boom with a bucket attached to the roof, was in one of two right lanes headed toward the flyover to Virginia Beach when traffic began to slow, said Trooper T.J. Pellerin.

When the cars ahead stopped, the van driver braked to avoid striking a car, Pellerin said. The van swerved to the right and the driver overcorrected, causing the van to overturn on its right side, killing the passenger.

State police blocked off part of the interstate headed toward the interchange ramps for about three hours. Traffic passing the scene slowed to a crawl as firefighters worked to pull the man from the van.

He was pronounced dead and his body was taken to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy. The driver was not injured, but was charged with reckless driving.

Neither man was wearing a seatbelt, Pellerin said.

The van is owned by Rogers Electrical of Virginia in Virginia Beach. KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITY

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