Augusta County, VA (April 1, 2025) – A Staunton woman was killed Tuesday afternoon in a collision involving a tractor-trailer near the Interstate 81 exit ramp on Route 262, according to the Virginia State Police.
Incident Details: The crash occurred around 1 p.m. near mile marker 225, where a tractor-trailer exiting I-81 attempted to turn onto northbound Route 262. A southbound SUV, driven by 57-year-old Cynthia Dean of Staunton, was unable to avoid the truck and became wedged underneath it. Dean died at the scene. The tractor-trailer driver, Sayed Hamidullah of Omaha, Nebraska, was not injured.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: The Virginia State Police cited Hamidullah for reckless driving. Investigators continue to assess contributing factors, including the timing of the turn and whether proper caution was taken by the truck driver when merging onto Route 262. The victim’s family may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim given the citation issued and the serious nature of the incident.
Source: WHSV