Draft man killed in wreck on 340
Damage to a Chevrolet pickup truck is seen after a wreck Wednesday.
A Stuarts Draft man was killed and two others were injured Wednesday night in a head-on collision at the intersection of Route 340 and School Boulevard in Stuarts Draft.
Steven Patrick Henry, 42, died at the scene.
The Virginia State Police said 29-year-old Dale Michael Pleasants, of Waynesboro, drove his GMC Silverado across the center lane while heading north on Route 340, striking Henry’s southbound 1991 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck at 7:03 p.m., near School Boulevard.
Henry’s friend and passenger Kim Fields, 37, of Beachwood, N.J. was airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, said Sgt. Michael Rossetti with the state police. Pleasants was taken to Augusta Medical Center and later to UVA Medical Center. Both are listed in fair condition today.
An investigation into the crash indicates that none of the victims were wearing seatbelts. Speeds have not been determined and it is unknown if alcohol was a factor, Rossetti said. The accident is still under investigation and charges are pending against Pleasants.
Court records show the following traffic violations for Pleasants in Augusta County since 2002: six speeding tickets, two charges of driving with a suspended license, one ticket each for driving without a seat belt and improper driving.
Reader Reactions
Thanks, usnavybrat. I called my brother just to make sure. His is brand new. I have 9 living brothers and sisters and there hasn’t been a sibling death since 1939, when our baby brother died. I’m the youngest of 11 at 58 and our oldest sister is 84—we know we have been lucky, but it has to start some time. We are close and I don’t want to lose any of them.
The GMC was an early 80’s model between ‘83 and ‘85 the s10 was a mid to late 80’s model possibly a very early 90’s model. the wreck its self happened in the intersection of 340 and school street, when both vehicles stopped they where in front of my house the s10 was in my front yard and the Silverado was in the middle of the hwy blocking both south bound lanes as well the turning lane, both me and my father where two of the first on Scene after calling 911. Sunny I hope my info helps you.
More information is needed before you print a story such as this. At least give the year of the vehicles involved.
One of my brothers lives a half mile from the wreck site, and he just bought a new GMC Silverado. It gave me quite a shock last night to read this story and have to wonder if it was him.
Tragic! A tragedy that did not have to happen, it happened because of someone’s not focusing on their driving or a mechanical failure, but more likely on a driver’s inattention.
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