State Police say three young women were killed in an accident late last night on State Route 311 in Craig County. School officials say all are graduates of Craig County High School. Investigators say one vehicle tried to pass another that was turning left off 311, and all three killed were in the vehicle attempting to pass; State Police say it left the highway and struck a tree. The dead are identified as the driver, 18-year-old Megan Bradley and passengers 19-year-old Tia Gardner and 22-year-old Carleigh Taylor, all from New Castle. Two other females in that vehicle were airlifted to Roanoke for hospital treatment. Troopers say no one in the second vehicle was hurt.(Continue reading for the full State Police news release.)
The Virginia State Police are continuing their investigation into a fatal crash that occurred late last night around 11:30 pm on Route 311 in Craig County. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo was traveling southbound and was attempting to pass a 2013 Chevrolet Beretta which was making a left turn. The driver of the Rodeo Megan Anne Bradley, age 18, of New Castle, Va. then lost control and ran off the road striking a tree. Bradley was not wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in the Rodeo were also killed in the crash. Carleigh Megan Taylor, age 22, of New Castle, Va. was wearing a safety belt and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Tia Jordan Gardner, age 19, of New Castle, Va. was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital and died a short time later. It is unknown at this time if she was wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash.
Two other female passengers in the Rodeo Jessica Stebar, age 19, of New Castle, Virginia and a 16 year old female from New Castle, Va. were both airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for their injuries.
The driver of the 2013 Chevrolet Nicholas Fisher, age 19, of New Castle, Va. and his two passengers were not injuried in the crash.
