Man charged after I-95 crash that snarled traffic

By PORTSIA SMITH

A North Carolina man is facing charges after a two-vehicle crash Friday that snarled traffic on Interstate 95 for more than five hours.

According to Sgt. Les Tyler of the Virginia State Police, the crash occurred about 3:10 p.m. near the 120 mile marker in the southbound lane of I-95, just north of theThornburg exit.

Tyler said a 1998 Oldsmobile van that was traveling in the southbound center lane struck a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck as it tried to change lanes.

The pickup truck, which was pulling a camping trailer, lost control and went off the road striking a guardrail and overturned, Tyler said. It blocked the lanes causing traffic to come to a crawl, he said.

The driver of the van left the scene, but was stopped about two miles down the road by other motorist, he said.

Ricardo Aparicio, 48, of Greensboro, N.C. is charged with felony hit and run and reckless driving.

The 78-year-old driver of the pickup was transported to Mary Washington Hospital by ambulance. His female passenger was flown there by helicopter.

The Virginia State Police was assisted by the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Spotsylvania County Sheirff’s Office.

All southbound traffic lanes were open by 7 p.m.