Fatal accident near Double Tollgate kills one, injures two

A Friday afternoon two-vehicle crash in the vicinity of Dinosaur Land at Double Tollgate in Clarke County claimed the life of a Stephens City woman who was a passenger and seriously injured both drivers.

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller said in a media release that at 12:20 p.m., Friday, Virginia State Police Trooper K.J. Orr responded to a two-vehicle crash in Clarke County, at the intersection of Route 522 and Route 340.

A 1995 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was traveling east on Route 277, and as the Tacoma crossed through the intersection towards Route 340, it collided with a 2012 Toyota Tundra pickup truck traveling north on Route 522.

The Tacoma pickup truck’s driver, a 69-year-old Stephens City  man, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported to Winchester Medical Center and is being treated for life-threatening injuries. His passenger, Gladys A. Hamilton, 90, of Stephens City, died at the scene. She was wearing a seat belt.

A 37-year-old Front Royal, Va. man who was the driver of the Tundra pickup truck,  was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening, injuries. Trooper Orr reported that was wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation at this time, Geller said, and charges are pending.