Man dies in early morning I-95 accident

An early morning accident proves fatal, another closes I-95 lanes at rush hour.

Date published: 8/16/2007

BY ELLEN BILTZ

An early morning accident on I-95 Thursday left a father dead and another man charged with driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter, said Sgt. F.L. Tyler of Virginia State Police.

Delvin L. Ridgle, 27, a sergeant with the U.S. Army, stationed at Ft. Eustis, was traveling northbound on I-95 at a high rate of speed about 3:15 a.m., Tyler said.

He said Ridgle’s 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser moved from the center to the left lane and struck another car, pushing it into the median, where it overturned.

The man killed, Cleveland Lloyd Antonio Mitchell, 54, of Durham, N.C., was driving with his two children, ages 18 and 21, when their Ford Focus was struck in the right rear at mile-marker 130.1 on I-95, Tyler said. Mitchell died at the scene.

Ridgle was charged in the accident after being taken to Mary Washington Hospital where he was released without injuries. He is being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Tyler said Mitchell’s children, whose names were not released, were sent to Mary Washington Hospital, but were released without injuries. The 18-year-old was a male and the 21-year-old was a female. Both were from Durham, Tyler said.

Tyler said alcohol and speed were both factors in the accident. All people involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts.

The early morning accident was followed by another one where injuries were not nearly as severe, but northbound traffic on I-95 was stopped through rush hour.

A tractor trailer carrying Coca-Cola products ran off the left side of the road and hit a guardrail at about 4:15 a.m., Tyler said.

The accident happened at mile-marker 136.

The truck driver, Christopher Bangura, 44, of Fredericksburg, was charged with reckless driving.

A piece of the trailer broke off and was struck by a 2002 Nissan Altima driven by Brandon Lott, 26, of King George, Tyler said.

The accident closed the left lane and shoulder until about 8:30 a.m. and the middle lane was closed for a small amount of time while a tow-truck was brought in, Tyler said.

He said about 20 gallons of diesel fuel was leaked onto I-95, but was cleaned up by HAZMAT.

There were no injuries in the accident, but Tyler said “traffic sure was backed up for a while.”

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Date published: 8/16/2007