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For Culpeper and Fauquier County motorists, a two-car accident on Route 9 north of Purcellville on a recent Sunday was yet another example of how much our lives depend on the responsible behavior of others.
Around 6:40 p.m. on May 29, 2011, a Toyota Yaris traveling east on Route 9 suddenly swerved and struck a westbound Toyota Forerunner head-on, ABC 7 and the Washington Post report. Satish Mallavaram, 36, of Ashburn, was driving the Yaris and died at the scene. The 48-year-old driver of the Forerunner, Anna M. Castro, and her 39-year-old passenger, Jose Castro-Rivas, were flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of their life-threatening injuries.
The crash shut down Route 9 near Route 287 for several hours. The incident remains under investigation with the assistance of the Virginia State Police Accident Reconstruction Team.
According to a witness, Mallavaram was "preoccupied with a handheld electronic device just moments before the crash."
The attorneys of Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas send condolences to the family and friends of Mallavaram. We hope for a speedy recovery for Castro and Castro-Rivas.
We urge all Virginia motorists to cut down on phone calls and texting while behind the wheel. Even while motor vehicles are becoming safer, the ease of video, text, and voice communication while driving has created a whole new category of risks, with deadly consequences.
