STAFFORD COUNTY, VA. (THECOUNT) — Active duty Marine, Malik J. Thomas, 25, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, has been charged after a high-speed crash on Interstate 95 northbound killed a Mother and a child younger than 5 early Friday morning in Stafford County, Virginia. Thomas was driving a Dodge Charger that struck the rear of a Nissan Rogue carrying the victims.
The crash occurred around 1:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, near mile marker 141, according to Virginia State Police. Investigators said the Charger was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck the rear of the SUV.
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The impact sent the Nissan Rogue off the left side of the interstate, where it overturned. The Mother died at the scene. A child passenger under the age of 5 was taken to a local hospital, where the child later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
The adult driver of the Rogue suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. Authorities have not publicly identified the two people killed or confirmed their relationship to the injured driver.
Thomas was not injured. Three passengers riding in his Dodge Charger sustained minor injuries, police said.
Thomas was initially charged with driving while intoxicated. Virginia State Police later identified him and announced two additional counts of involuntary manslaughter involving DUI.
Reports citing Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen said Thomas identified himself as an active-duty Marine and that his blood alcohol concentration was reported at .17 percent, more than twice Virginia’s legal limit of .08 percent. Those details were reported by local media and were not included in the initial state police account.
All northbound lanes of I-95 were closed while authorities investigated the crash. Traffic was diverted onto Route 1, and the highway reopened around 7:09 a.m. Friday.
Stafford County is in Northern Virginia, along the I-95 corridor between Washington, D.C., and the Fredericksburg area. The crash occurred on northbound I-95 near mile marker 141.
Approximate map: I-95 northbound near mile marker 141, Stafford County, VA
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