Charges filed in high-speed crash

BY SCOTT SHENK

An Alexandria man was lucky to survive a high-speed motorcycle crash in Spotsylvania County on Saturday night, but he had no such luck with police, who charged him with numerous infractions.

The situation started at about 6:40 p.m. when Lt. Steve Clem of the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office was responding to another incident, according to Capt. Mike Harvey.

The driver of the motorcycle, 25-year-old Marcos Suniga–Raudales, initially appeared to be slowing to pull over on southbound U.S. 1 in Massaponax to let Clem pass, but then he sped off, Harvey said.

Clem followed the motorcycle, estimating that it was traveling at more than 100 mph.

He eventually saw the motorcycle go out of control and hit a car and then the guardrail.

Suniga–Raudales was thrown over the guardrail and suffered broken bones and internal injuries, Harvey said. According to Mary Washington Hospital, Suniga–Raudales was in good condition as of Monday afternoon.

Elizabeth Koch, a 75-year-old Vienna woman, was a passenger with her son, Daniel Koch of Fredericksburg, in his Chevrolet Spark when she said the motorcycle “came out of the blue” and hit the driver’s side of the car, then the guardrail.

“I thought he was dead,” she said of the motorcyclist. “There wasn’t much left of the motorcycle.”

Suniga–Raudales faces charges of felony eluding; reckless driving; failing to register a motor vehicle;  and having no driver’s license, no motorcycle endorsement and no insurance.

Scott Shenk:  540/374-5436

sshenk@freelancestar.com

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