2 hurt at intersection

Two people were transported to hospitals Monday in a two-vehicle crash at a bustling Waynesboro intersection targeted by police in a push to drive down smashups.

Walter Radney, 66, of Afton, was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville with a neck injury after his Grand Jeep Cherokee collided with a Nissan Altima at the crossing of Rosser Avenue with Lew DeWitt Boulevard. Tina Davenport, 43, of Stuarts Draft, was taken to Augusta Health in Fishersville where she was treated for minor injuries, according to Sgt. Brian Edwards.

Radney was driving his four-door green Cherokee east on Lew DeWitt at about 3:15 p.m. when he attempted to drive through the intersection with Windigrove Drive. He crashed his SUV into Davenport’s white, four-door Nissan Altima heading south on Rosser, Edwards said. Ladd Elementary School students were being let out of school at the time, Edwards said.

A helicopter landed on the southbound side of Rosser to transport the man to U.Va.

No skid marks were evident on the road. Edwards said Radney was not wearing a seat belt. Police have yet to find witnesses, Edwards said.

The intersection reopened to traffic at 4:45 p.m. Vehicles backed up along Lucy Lane, Lew DeWitt and Rosser as police directed traffic through the area.

Police have identified the DeWitt-Rosser intersection as one of the most dangerous in the city. Police earlier this month announced a crackdown on five crossings, including DeWitt-Rosser, where a fourth of almost 400 city crashes occurred last year.

Staff Writer Tony Gonzalez contributed to this report.