Breaking News for Culpeper and Warrenton Accident Victims

Two Rapidan men charged with reckless driving in US 15 crash

Posted on Nov 27, 2010

Reckless and unsafe driving can have serious consequences, as two men from Rapidan are finding out.

The men, Devon Blackwood, 50, and Sean Michael Barganier, 36, are facing reckless driving charges after their actions contributed to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 15.

According to Virginia State Police, the accident happened a little south of Carver School lane when one man tried to pass the other on 15. Police state that Blackwood tried to pass Bargainer’s 2004 Nissan pickup truck a little after noon. Bargainer then sped up, police believe in order to prevent Blackwood’s 1996 Dodge van from passing him.

Bargainer’s action forced Blackwood to stay in the oncoming lane of traffic . As the vehicles approached a hill, Blackwood tried to return to the southbound lane of 15, but his van clipped the back of the Nissan pickup truck. This caused the van to flip over.

Fortunately no one was injured in the wreck, which could have been much worse. Virginia State Police decided that the drivers shared responsibility for the accident, therefore both were charged with reckless driving.

Unsafe passing practices can lead to terrible accidents. One or both vehicles could have been run off the road, or they could have caused a head-on collision with an oncoming car or truck.