19-year-old state wrestling champ dead after Route 11 crash in Botetourt County

Christopher Nininger attended Cave Spring High School before transferring to Christiansburg High School

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – A 19-year-old is dead and another is in the hospital after a crash on Botetourt County Friday night.

The victim of the deadly crash was a local high school graduate and two-time state wrestling champion.

On Friday, Christopher Dowell Nininger, of Troutville, was traveling north on Route 11 when he lost control of his 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, according to authorities.

State police said he then ran off the right side of the roadway, hit an embankment and flipped over multiple times before he was ejected from the vehicle. According to authorities, Nininger was not wearing his seat belt and was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Police said speed was a factor in the crash and that the incident remains under investigation.

Nininger attended Cave Spring High School where he took home wrestling titles before transferring to Christiansburg High School his senior year.

A passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Kiersten Atinson, was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.


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