Gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds usually has a driver. He probably wishes he had one Saturday night.

Deeds, a Democratic state senator from Bath County, was traveling from a campaign event in Fredericksburg to his home when his car rear-ended another car on State Route 22 between Louisa and Mineral.

The two occupants of the other car were taken to a Charlottesville hospital for precautionary treatment, and were treated and released.

Deeds, who was traveling alone, was uninjured, and called the people in the other car the next day to check on them, said campaign spokeswoman Brooke Borkenhagen.

Deeds received a $30 ticket for following too closely.

His vehicle, a 2002 Ford Explorer with 308,000 miles on it, had minor damage. Deeds left it in Louisa for repairs, and a campaign staffer took him to Charlottesville to rent a car.

Most statewide candidates hire someone else to man the wheel as they travel hundreds of miles around the state campaigning.

Deeds usually does too, Borkenhagen said, but on Saturday he and the driver split up, because Deeds was headed home to spend Mother's Day with his family.

Deeds had spoken to a meeting of the National Organization of Women in Fredericksburg Saturday afternoon.

Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com