Winchester man dies in traffic accident while attempting to flee police

On May 8, 2021, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Deputy R.W. Marcelle observed a 2003 Cadillac passenger vehicle being operated in a reckless manner on Route 11 North in the area of Welltown Road. The Cadillac was observed accelerating rapidly, clearly traveling well above the posted limit of 40 mph, before merging onto Route 37 southbound.

Deputy Marcelle, caught up to the vehicle without activating his emergency lights and siren to establish an accurate speed. Marcelle caught up to the vehicle, prior to the Route 522 exit, where he estimated the Cadillac’s prior speed to be over 100 mph and now slowing on the exit ramp before stopping at a red traffic light.

Deputy Marcelle decided he would stop the vehicle in the area of the Sheetz in Sunnyside, once the light cycled green, so both vehicles could clear the ramp and intersection. Upon the light turning green, the Cadillac made a left turn South onto Route 522 and accelerated rapidly. Marcelle now activated his emergency equipment to pull the subject over only to have the Cadillac accelerate and pull away from him. Deputy Marcelle next radioed that he had a subject attempting to flee a traffic stop and tried to catch up to the suspect. Marcelle noted that the Cadillac was now traveling above 100 mph and headed towards the city limits of Winchester.

The driver of the Cadillac had created distance between himself and the deputy and was coming up the bend of Route 522 where the 4-lane divided roadway transitions down to a 2-lane non-divided configuration. The Cadillac’s momentum carried it across the centerline and partially into the northbound lane where it side-swiped a 2016 Honda Civic operated by Jeremy Nicely of Winchester. The Honda was struck along its driver’s side before spinning across the northbound lanes and coming to rest on the southbound edge of the road facing south.

The Cadillac now continued south, in the northbound lane, and hit a 2003 Chevy Trail Blazer, operated by Zachary Harner of Winchester, head-on. This impact pushed the Blazer back approximately 50 feet and caused the Cadillac to spin 180 degrees, flip onto its roof, and come to final rest next to the Blazer.

Deputy Marcelle, still attempting to overtake the Cadillac, witnessed the Honda come spinning across his lane where he was able to avoid a crash with it. Once clear of the Honda, Marcelle saw the aftermath of the second event, between the Cadillac and the Blazer, and radioed in requesting an appropriate emergency response. Marcelle and other responding deputies used fire extinguishers to contain a small fire that was coming from the exposed undercarriage of the Cadillac. The positioning and condition of the Cadillac prevented deputies from gaining access to anyone in the vehicle.

Frederick County Fire / EMS arrived at the scene and began extrication procedures on the Cadillac in addition to the treatment of serious, but apparently non-life-threatening, injuries to Harner in the Blazer. Once access to the cockpit of the Cadillac was made, it was clear that the driver had not survived and was pronounced deceased on scene.

Lt. Warren Gosnell and members of the FCSO Traffic Division responded to the scene to handle the fatal crash investigation. The driver of the Cadillac was identified as Kondwani Rogers with a Waterford Lane address in Frederick County where personal notification was made to Rogers’ family of his death. Harner was transported to Winchester Medical Center and underwent surgery for various fractures and injuries as a result of the crash. The driver of the Honda refused medical treatment.

All three vehicles are considered to be total losses. Members of the FCSO Patrol Division, VDOT, and Virginia State Police all assisted on this call. The roadway was shut down for approximately six hours during the investigation, and it was noted that this is the second major crash at this location in the past 10 days.

Press Release from Frederick County Sheriff’s Office