Appomattox child dies from wreck injuries

By: Dave Thompson | The News & Advance
Published: July 18, 2008

An Appomattox 11-year-old died Thursday afternoon from injuries he sustained in a Wednesday evening wreck in Appomattox, according to State Police.

Police identified the boy as Wayne Kenneth Chappel.

Sgt. David Cooper said Chappel was airlifted to the hospital after the wreck and died shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Trooper G.A. Smith said the accident occurred at 6:38 p.m., at the stoplight on U.S. 460 at the Shoppes of Appomattox shopping center and, along with Chappel, sent five others to the hospital.

Braxton Elliot, 16, of Appomattox, was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe east on U.S. 460 when he made a left turn, attempting to enter the shopping center. He collided with the driver’s side of a westbound Pontiac minivan driven by Pamela K. Chappell of Appomattox.

The minivan overturned, ejecting three juvenile passengers who were 9, 11 and 14 years old.

Smith said it did not appear the three were wearing their seatbelts.

Also in the vehicle was Chappell’s husband, Darrell Chappell, who was flown to Lynchburg General Hospital with injuries that Smith said were major, but not life-threatening.

Pamela Chappell was taken, along with the other juveniles, to Lynchburg General Hospital. None had serious injuries.

Smith said a fourth juvenile, 11, was in the minivan in a safety seat and was not injured.

Pamela and Darrell Chappell were both wearing their seatbelts, Smith said.

The SUV’s driver and one of his passengers, a juvenile, were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital with minor injuries.

Two other juvenile passengers in the Tahoe were unhurt. All four in the SUV were wearing their seatbelts, he said.

Smith said he doesn’t know what caused the accident, and the investigation is continuing.

He said there’s no clear indicator whether the stoplight was red or green, or whether the Tahoe had an arrow allowing the driver to turn without yielding.

“This would be a great case for stoplight cameras,” he said.

No charges had been filed in the incident as of Wednesday night, but Smith said they could be forthcoming, based on what his investigation turns up.