Police Hope Drivers Can Take Lessons From Fatal Crash

June 16, 2007 - 9:59am

SPRINGFIELD, Va. - A horrific beltway crash late Thursday evening claimed the lives of four young women, including two recent West Potomac High School graduates, and left another in the hospital.

With summer approaching more young drivers will be hopping behind the wheel, and police are hoping that other young drivers learn a lesson from Thursdays' fatal crash.

Virginia State police Sgt. Les Tyler says that all drivers should be aware of where they're going, be familiar with which exits they plan to use, and to make sure they read all road signs to make sure they are in the proper lane.

"Proper use of seatbelts, never driving impaired, these are things we promote on a daily basis," said Tyler.

Alcohol was found in the car, but it has not yet been determined if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

"It's a very tragic event," said Tyler. "Any fatality event we have on the highways is a tragic event and these are the things we try to look into and try to prevent everyday."

Tyler cannot emphasis the importance of never drinking and driving.

The accident occurred around 11 p.m. Thursday night when the Volkswagen Cabriolet the victims were riding in changed lanes and entered the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer, and then cut through the white striped triangular-shaped safety zone where exit ramp lanes for Interstate 95 South split off the Inner Loop.

The young women have been identified as 20-year-old Elaine Thackston; 18-year-old Lydia Petkoff; 19-year-old Sarah Renee Carter; and 18-year-old Renee Nicole Shelkin. Two of the victims graduated Wednesday from West Potomac High School and another victim was a student at the school.

According to the West Potomac High School Web site, the school was sponsoring a "Class of 2007 All Night Graduation Celebration" at the ESPN Zone in D.C. from midnight until 4 a.m.

Buses were scheduled to leave the school, located at 6500 Quander Rd. in Alexandria, at 11 p.m. and return to the school at 5 a.m.

The crash occurred near a ramp from the inner loop of the beltway to southbound Interstate 95 in Springfield. The entrance to the ramp was closed for several hours after the crash, backing up traffic for about a mile.