Manassas Journal Messenger | Fairfax crash kills 16-year-old
A Manassas Park High School student was killed and another injured Monday afternoon in a one-car crash in Centreville.
At approximately 2:15 p.m., the 17-year-old driver was heading eastbound on Compton Road when he apparently lost control of the car, Fairfax County police said. The vehicle hit a tree, killing the Thomas Erskine Jr., 16, instantly according to The Associated Press. The driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Prince William Hospital in Manassas.
According to Fairfax County police officer Jody Donaldson, both individuals were wearing seat belts when the accident occurred. Manassas Park school officials would not comment Monday, saying they will release a statement concerning the accident today.
The Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently reviewing the evidence of the crash.
“They will be able to tell how fast they were going and other factors involved,” said Fairfax County officer Tom Harrington. “The final report could be ready [today].”
Harrington described that part of Compton Road as “real dangerous.”
“It’s a two-lane road,” Harrington said. “It’s curves, dips and turns. Unfortunately, we have a lot of accidents on it.”
“Speed could have been a factor,” Donaldson said on a News Channel-8 report.
Both students were members of the school’s football team. The accident happened just before the second half of the team’s first two-a-day practice of the season. Today’s practice has been canceled.
Reached at home, the wife of Manassas Park coach Jeff Lloyd said Lloyd would not comment. Grief counselors will be in school today for those who need consoling.