Arrest made in deadly head-on crash on Roanoke’s Gus Nicks Blvd.
Pictures courtesy Debbie Moore of PhotoVirginia.com
Crash scene at Gus Nicks Blvd. Sunday night.
Published: September 8, 2008
Updated 12:00 p.m.
Roanoke City Police now say the crash on Gus Nicks Blvd. Sunday night was deadly.
Officers say Raymond Burks from Vinton was driving the Plymouth minivan that crashed head-on into a Pontiac station wagon, then hit a Mercury station wagon, around 8:59 p.m.
Investigators charged Burks with driving while intoxicated. EMS crews took Burks to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Officers tell us a man riding in the front seat of the Pontiac station wagon died, and the driver of that station wagon ran off from the scene before police arrived. EMS crews took an adult in the back seat of the Pontiac station wagon to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Officers also say a 16-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were in the Mercury station wagon.
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Original story 8:52 a.m., updated with pictures 11:47 a.m.
Roanoke City Police say a head-on crash closed Gus Nicks Boulevard Sunday night, September 7th.
Officers tell us a Plymouth Voyager hit a Pontiac station wago head-on, then the minivan crashed into a Mercury station wagon around 8:59 p.m.
Police did not release how many people were hurt.
Pictures courtesy Debbie Moore of PhotoVirginia.com
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Reader Reactions
Unfortunately many times the family does show up to the scene of a horrific crash or crime scene. I don’t know if the police notified the family or someone who knew the victim saw the crash and notified the family.
However many times in a case like this it does take several hours for notifications to be made to crash reconstruction teams, investigators, crime scene investigators and sometimes even the medical examiner. And no they are not all always involved.
It is unfortunate that these situations occur with family and friends of victims, but please try to understand if a careless or rushed job is done vital evidence could be easily lost.
To many people think things should happen as fast as they do on a 30 or 60 minute TV show. THEY DON’T!
I realize this has to be the worst time for the victims family, but I hope everyone understands that the Police, Fire, and EMS personnel are trying to do their very best in these most difficult times for everyone involved.
Does the person that died in this accident have the initials D.S.? I can’t understand why they are not releasing the name or why they have not found the driver of the station wagon?
I myself know the guy that was killed in this horrific accident he introduced my now husband and myself he was a kind person who wouldnt hurt a sole and would give u the shirt off his back if u needed it God works in mysterious ways when he takes the best this one we may never understand i couldnt imagine having to come to the scene but i pray for the family and everyone involved i just hope that people will think twice about driving drunk one person lost a life but everyone lost a part of their heart that night !!! God Bless all of the family and always know that whervere u are he will b an angel watching over u
Does anybody know who the driver that ran from the scene was? Was the arrest of that person?
Perhaps now that there has been an arrest, your photos can help in the investigation.
PLEASE everyone do not drink & drive!
I arrived at the scene after it happened and as a photographer I did take photo’s of the scene. I have thought about it all night. It was something I wish I had not responded too as it was the worst multiple vehicle accident I have seen in years and years. I watched as the family arrived at the scene to find out that their son, brother, etc. was dead and laying there. I watched as the mother tried to get to her son and they would not let her go to him. I lay here last night afterwards and wondered what I would do if it had been my son or daughter laying there and the Police tried to stop me. Would I have let them? Would I have been arrested for wanting to be there with my child and hold my child until the people arrived to take them away? From what I can understand the Police went to the deceased mans home and alerted them there had been an accident and naturally they came to the scene to see their son laying there dead in the middle of the road. Why did the Police let the body lay there so long? Why was the body not taken away when the other victims of this horrible accident were taken to the hospital? What was that body going to do for their investigation? Why leave it there for all the world to see? I know…I was wrong to have gone there but as a photographer I wanted to tell the news. I was wrong. There is no excuse but there were also many many many others there looking on…seeing that body laying there by itself. I know they would probably say it was better to remember the person the way they were instead of seeing them dead in the road but God help them. What is worse, to know my child is dead and laying there alone with no one around them or just leaving the scene and going home? I just can’t get this out of my mind. What was the purpose of leaving that body there for hours for people like me (and man do I hate to admit that) to look at and see for hours on end? As a photographer I do want to get out the news. I am a freelance photographer but do I want to see the pain and heartache that others face or do I want to bring only happy news to people? Right now at this particular moment I only want happy news to happen in front of me. I don’t know what will happen when I get another call about an accident. Will I go or will I just ignore it? I hope I ignore it or if I don’t that it will never again be like this. My prayers are so with the family of the deceased man and with the other victims of this terrible accident. If I could change it I would.
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