Virginia judge hurt in motorcycle accident

Michael Martz
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: March 12, 2008

A Virginia judge is in stable condition today in a Richmond hospital after suffering multiple fractures in a motorcycle collision with a car in King William County.

General District Court Judge Paul W. Cella, who serves in Powhatan County and three other counties in the 11th Circuit, was injured after a vehicle pulled in front of his motorcycle yesterday about 4:15 p.m. on U.S. 360 in King William, according to his sister, Dr. Caroline Cella-Marker.

Cella, 53, suffered multiple fractures and was airlifted to VCU Medical Center, where he was being treated in the surgical-trauma unit, his sister said.

“He’s awake; he’s alert,” Cella-Marker said yesterday. “Mentally, he’s fine.”

Cella is a Powhatan native and resident. He was appointed last year to serve on the 11th Circuit, which includes Powhatan, Dinwiddie, Amelia, and Nottoway counties. He serves in a backup capacity in General District Court in Petersburg, also part of the circuit.

Virginia State Police Sgt. Tom Cunningham said today that Cella was traveling west on U.S. 360 when a car, traveling east, turned into Cella’s path near the intersection with state Route 30 at Central Garage.

Trooper D.J. Wilson investigated the collision and charged the car’s driver, Virginia Mitchell, 82, of West Point, with failure to yield.