Bus Crash Kills 1 Near Lorton,Virginia

A shuttle bus overturned on Interstate 95 near Lorton, Va., early Sunday morning, killing one person and injuring 16 others. One man has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly causing the accident.

Virginia State Police said the small bus, operated by America Transportation, was traveling south on I-95 shortly before 3:30 a.m. Witnesses said a speeding, white, four-door passenger vehicle swerved into the bus’s path, colliding with the bus causing it to run off the road, hit a guardrail, and overturn.

The incident occurred just south of Exit 163 for Lorton. The 16 passengers and the driver were transported to nearby hospitals.Two of the injured were flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of more serious injuries, but one of those victims, David Alberto Sanchez, 24, of Woodbridge, Va., died at the hospital. The second person is still being treated for life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the bus and one other passenger are being treated for serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The remaining 13 passengers suffered minor injuries.All passengers are in their early 20s and from Prince William County in Virginia.

Sanchez's father, Federico Hernandez, said in a telephone conversation Sunday with The Associated Press that his son, who worked in the office of an auto body shop in Virginia, was attending a birthday party for a co-worker. He said he believed his son had left around 11 p.m. Saturday for a trip into Washington to celebrate.

He told the AP he believed the bus was returning when it crashed. Hernandez said his son worked during the day but was also studying computers at a community college.
Thanks to witness help, police were able to track down the white car to a home in Dumfries. Raphael Manuel Barrientos, 31, of Dumfries, Va. was taken into custody. He has been charged with one count of felony hit-and-run and is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.