Feb. 15, after consultation with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit charged the driver of the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado for his involvement in the fatal crash at Kapp Valley Way and James Madison Highway in Haymarket on Feb. 6.
The crash involved a train as the Silverado collided with the freight train, causing the truck to temporarily leave the roadway and land upright several hundred feet from the railroad crossing in an easement of the railroad tracks.
Passenger Emerson Lisandro Martinez Mejia, 26, of Manassas, died at the scene.
"The investigation revealed the driver of a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound on Kapp Valley Way when the driver disregarded a posted stop sign prior to the railroad crossing and proceeded to cross over the tracks where it was then struck by a passing cargo train," said police spokeswoman Master Office Renee Carr.
The driver of the Silverado, Jose Odelino Gonzalez Valdez, 42, of 157 Kent Drive in Manassas Park was charged with reckless driving.
His court data is pending.
"Kapp Valley Way is a private road and the accident happened at the railroad crossing prior to James Madison Highway," said Master Officer Renee Carr. "At the earlier crossing, there is only a stop sign and a sign advising to look both ways, no arms, no lights."
The suspect is innocent until proven guilty.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Fatal Crash Investigation – Investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit for Prince William County responded to the area of Kapp Valley Way and James Madison Highway in Haymarket, on Feb. 6 at 6:31 p.m. to investigate a single-vehicle crash involving a train.
The investigation revealed the driver of a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound on Kapp Valley Way when the driver disregarded a posted stop sign prior to the railroad crossing and proceeded to cross over the tracks where it was then struck by a passing cargo train.
The impact of the collision caused the truck to temporarily leave the roadway and land upright several hundred feet from the railroad crossing in an easement of the railroad tracks. Fire and rescue personnel responded and pronounced a passenger inside the truck dead at the scene.
The driver of the truck was extricated from the truck and flown to an area hospital where his injuries were determined to be non-life threatening. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation continues.
The deceased passenger in the Chevrolet Silverado was identified as Emerson Lisandro Martinez Mejia, 26, of Manassas
The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado was identified as a 42-year-old man who resides in Manassas Park
"Kapp Valley Way is a private road and the accident happened at the railroad crossing prior to James Madison Highway," said Master Officer Renee Carr. "At the earlier crossing, there is only a stop sign and a sign advising to look both ways, no arms, no lights. "
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