WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – UPDATE
A driver has been charged in connection to a crash that sent a Pittsylvania County firefighter to the hospital, according to Virginia State Police.
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Valerie Gregg, 55, of Newport News has been charged with failure to stop at the scene of a crash and driving without a license.
The crash happened on Saturday around 2:30 a.m. on I-64 near mile marker 242, according to State Police.
In a press release, VSP says the incident began when a 2010 Mercedes C300 and a 2016 Cadillac Escalade were traveling east on I-64. The Mercedes swerved into the other lane and sideswiped the Cadillac. Both vehicles pulled off onto the right shoulder to exchange information.
As the driver of the Cadillac, Thomas W. Page, 43, of Gretna, Va., was standing on the shoulder, the Mercedes pulled away from the scene and struck Page, the release says. The impact knocked Page into the eastbound travel lane. The driver of the Mercedes, Gregg, left the scene.
“Whenever [volunteer firefighters] are needed, they are there. Whatever the Town needs they’re helping with, and they never hesitate,” said Hurt Mayor Gary Hodnett. “That’s why he responded the way that he did. He got out of his vehicle and went to work even though it was his day off. He was still at work.”
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A Hurt volunteer firefighter, who is also a member of Gretna Fire & Rescue, was flown to the hospital in critical condition after being hit by a drunk driver, according to the Hurt Volunteer Fire Department.
We’re told the crash happened Saturday overnight in Williamsburg and involved Thomas Page, his daughter, Emily and a suspected drunk driver who has not been named at this time.
The Town of Hurt posted a message from Thomas’ wife, Jacqueline, who explained briefly what happened while also requesting prayers and support from the community.
According to the post, after the drunk driver hit Thomas’ vehicle, Thomas then got out of the car to check on the other driver and exchange information. That’s when the drunk driver went to leave the scene and ran him over, the post reads.
Please keep Hurt Fire Department in your prayers. We just found out that one of our members was involved in a accident...
Posted by Hurt Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, July 23, 2022
“Our daughter Emily witnessed the entire event. Emily is not physically injured. Just very traumatized,” Jacqueline said in the post.
Thomas was flown to a trauma center in Norfolk.
“He is in critical condition, and not expected to make it. I have faith in God that can change ... Please I beg you to keep us all in your prayers,” his wife said.