Woman suffers a diabetic emergency, crashes vehicle

RAPHINE — Rescuers fed M&Ms to an ailing driver Wednesday afternoon to help her regain consciousness after she suffered a diabetic emergency behind the wheel and her car careened off northbound I-81 near mile marker 205.

At about 3:40 p.m., the woman’s black Honda Elantra hit a tractor-trailer and went off the right side of the road, traveling about 300 feet before smashing into a fence, said Virginia State Police Trooper C.E. Zenzen.

The woman was unconscious when rescue crews arrived. She regained consciousness after eating the chocolate candy and was transferred to Augusta Medical Center, where she is being treated for unknown neck and back injuries, Zenzen said.

Zenzen said the driver of a tractor-trailer with a black trailer stopped initially but left the scene, according to a witness. Police are considering the accident a hit-and-run, he said.

Authorities said they did not have the woman’s name, but said the car she was driving is registered to a Greenville address. Sandra Berry, freelance photographer for The News Virginian, identified the woman as her cousin, Wanda McFall, of Greenville, while at the scene.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Virginia State Police at 540-885-2142 or Central Shenandoah CrimeStoppers at 1-800-322-2017. Callers with information leading to an arrest could receive cash awards of up to $1,000. The information can be provided anonymously.