Car, dump truck collide

A Fort Defiance man and his mother were hospitalized Thursday after their car crossed the center line and collided with a dump truck on a narrow stretch of Knightly Lane, authorities said.

Daniel Fishel, 25, driving with his mother, Juanita Fishel, 52, was driving southbound around a curve when his car hit the side of a 1979 Mack dump truck, New Hope firefighter Josh Sprouse said.

The truck partially drove over the hood of the green 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier before the car came to rest perpendicular to the road, severely mangled in the front, at 2:02 p.m.

Responding rescuers called for additional help and worked 15 minutes to cut portions of the car and remove the Fishels, who were pinned against the dashboard, Sprouse said.

Juanita Fishel was airlifted to University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. Her son was transported to Augusta Health in Fishersville.

Virginia State Police Master Trooper W.H. Reid said both are being treated for non life-threatening injuries.

Seth Ritchie, 22, of Weyers Cave, driving the dump truck for Ernie’s Excavating, was unhurt. There was little damage to the truck, which was filled with stumps and branches.

Authorities charged Daniel Fishel with failure to stay right of the center line.

Reid determined that Fishel crossed the center line before the collision on the stretch of road barely wide enough for the vehicles to pass. Neither speed nor alcohol factored into the crash.