Alyssa Williams, 19, of Chester, Virginia, was killed in a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 64 in Albemarle County late Monday night, October 26. The tractor-trailer driver involved, Sikander Singh, 34, of Laval, Quebec, has been charged with reckless driving, Virginia State Police said. A charge is an allegation, and Singh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What Happened
The crash happened at about 11:25 p.m. on westbound I-64 at mile marker 108, near Route 250, according to Virginia State Police. Investigators say a preliminary investigation indicates a Ford passenger vehicle hit a deer and became disabled in the right travel lane.
Williams, driving a Honda, stopped behind the disabled Ford. A westbound tractor-trailer driven by Singh then struck the Honda. The impact sent both the Honda and the tractor-trailer off the roadway, across the right shoulder and into a ditch.
Williams was ejected from the Honda and died at the scene. Singh was injured and taken to an area hospital; state police did not describe the severity of his injuries. The driver of the Ford was not hurt. State police have not said what role speed, visibility or other factors played, and the crash remains under investigation.
A Second Fatal Crash Nearby
This was the first of two deadly crashes in the same stretch of I-64 within a few hours. The second, at mile marker 109 just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, killed Sally Tripp, 58, of Augusta County. Police have not said the two crashes are related.
Remembering Alyssa Williams
Tributes shared online describe Williams as a student at James Madison University, and friends and classmates have sent messages of support to her family and the JMU community.
What’s Next
Virginia State Police continue to investigate. This is a developing story, and updates will be added as more information is released.
