Motorist Charged With DUI in I-95 Crash That Took Trucker's Life

Motorist Charged With DUI in I-95 Crash That Took Trucker’s Life

Hanover County, VA – A 37-year-old motorist is now charged in a crash that killed a Miami truck driver on Saturday morning along Interstate 95.

On Monday, Virginia State Police (VSP) identified the driver of a passenger vehicle and the trucker involved in a deadly crossover crash in the early morning hours on Saturday.

VSP said Richard K. Edwards Jr., 37, of Midlothian, has been charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol during the crash that took the life of trucker Silvio Ponjuan Reyes, 53.

The fatal accident occurred at approximately 3:42 a.m. near mile marker 87 in Hanover County.

Investigators say Edwards was driving 1999 Jeep Cherokee and traveling southbound when he veered across the median and into the northbound lanes directly into the path of Reyes’ tractor-trailer.

Reyes was unable to avoid the SUV and the two vehicles collided.

“The adult male driver of the tractor-trailer lost control striking the guardrail and overturned,” a VSP spokesman said following the crash. “The tractor lost its load of boxed vegetables and has a diesel leak due to the damage.”

Reyes was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash and his body had to be extricated, according to VSP.

Edwards sustained only minor injuries and a male passenger sustained serious injuries.

Both were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, VSP said.

VSP says its investigation is ongoing.