Breaking News for Culpeper and Warrenton Accident Victims

Bus driver charged in major I-66 holiday weekend crash

Posted on May 28, 2009

A charter bus driver has been charged for his role in a chain-reaction crash that shut down westbound Interstate 66 during the Friday holiday weekend late afternoon travel time. Thirty seven people were injured as a result of the crash and I-66 remained closed for about three and a half hours creating a 12 mile backup.

The charter bus was one of three returning to Harrisonburg VA with elementary school students and staff after a trip to the Smithsonian. The accident happened when the driver of the last of the buses failed to use his brakes in time and crashed into the back of one of the other buses.

The initial impact caused a chain reaction. The second bus then hit an SUV, and the SUV hit the lead bus. The SUV driver and passenger were not injured in the accident, but 37 students and staff members had to be treated at Inova Fairfax and Inova Fair Oaks hospitals for minor injuries.

Virginia State Police charged the driver who initiated the chain-reaction crash, Clinton E. Shilling of Staunton, with following too closely. The driver claims he was momentarily distracted by a roadside incident.