ASHLAND, Va. -- One man was killed and two children injured in a multi-vehicle crash that closed Route 1 in Ashland for five hours on Tuesday. Hanover County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Chris Whitley identified the man who died in the crash as 41-year-old Floyd F. Robinson, Jr., of Jericho Road in Caroline County.
The preliminary investigation indicated Robinson’s vehicle was lawfully stopped in the left southbound lane of Rt. 1 in order to make a left turn into a business when he was struck in the rear by a 1998 Ford van that was traveling in the same lane, Whitley said.
"This caused Robinson’s vehicle to spin into the northbound lane at which time all occupants, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected from the vehicle onto the northbound side of the roadway," he added.
The children, ages six and 11, were taken to VCU Medical Center with serious injuries.
"In an effort to avoid the crash, a third vehicle (a 2013 Ford Fusion) traveling northbound on Rt. 1 swerved and struck Robinson’s vehicle," Whitley said. "This caused a fourth vehicle (a 2007 GMC SUV) to swerve to avoid hitting the 2013 Ford Fusion, which then struck Robinson who was lying in the roadway."
Charges are pending in the crash, Whitley said.
A customer at the nearby Sheehy Ford of Ashland ran to the crash scene to perform CPR on at least one victim. The customer is in the Army and stationed at Fort Lee.
A witness who drove up on the accident moments after it happened said she saw at least three people lying in the road.
"My husband ran right out," Monae McNair said a short while after the crash. "I could hear crying from the little boy and girl. They were young."
"All hell broke loose," witness Michelle Taylor said. Taylor said she was stopped in traffic for 45 minutes before deputies detoured her around the crash scene.
