Shuttle Bus Crash in D. C. Suburbs Claims One Life

A shuttle bus transporting a group celebrating a co-worker’s birthday was involved in a fatal crash in the early morning hours of Sunday the 23^rd of March. The vehicle was carrying its passengers back to their point of origin when it was involved in a collision with a white passenger vehicle that fled the scene. According to Virginia State Police, the accident took place just south of Washington D.C. . They were called to the scene of the accident at 3:28 a.m. and found that the incident had left one celebrant dead and required the hospitalization of 16 others.

According to witnesses, the shuttle bus was travelling south on Interstate 95 in northern Virginia’s Fairfax County when a white sedan travelling at a high rate of speed struck it. It was initially unclear as to whether the two vehicles collided or whether the sedan had cut the shuttle bus off and forced it to swerve, but later reports indicated that there was a collision. The bus driver was unable to maintain control of his vehicle and ran off the road, where the bus overturned.

Though the driver of the sedan attempted to escape from the scene, he later apprehended and arrested on a charge of hit and run. He was identified as 31-year old Raphael Manuel Barrientos of Dumfries, Virginia.

Reports indicate that the passengers on the shuttle bus were employees of an auto body shop located in Virginia who were in Washington, D.C. celebrating a co-worker’s birthday party.  The group had left Virginia shortly before midnight and were on their way back when the accident took place. According to state police, nine of the passengers were thrown from the bus as a result of the collision, with one requiring treatment for life-threatening injuries. The driver and one of the passengers suffered serious injuries that were not deemed to be life threatening, and the rest of those on the bus suffered only minor injuries. In all there were 25 people on board at the time of the accident.

The shuttle bus was operated by America Transportation. A company spokesman released no information and referred all inquiries to the police department. The man who was killed was 24-year old David Alberto Sanchez of Woodbridge, Virginia.