A head-on crash in Saluda claimed the lives of two Topping residents this week, reported Sgt. Michelle Anaya, Virginia State Police’s public information officer for Division 5.
On Monday, Sept. 16, at approximately 3:54 p.m., state police were called to investigate a two-vehicle crash on General Puller Highway (Route 33), east of Gloucester Road (U.S. Route 17). The crash occurred on the east side of Saluda in the curve of the two-lane road where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour.
The crash investigation revealed that the driver of a 2014 Kia Soul, 64-year-old Allan Wayne Cash, was leaving Saluda traveling east on Route 33 when he crossed the centerline of the roadway striking an oncoming vehicle, a 2017 Ford Transit van, head on.
The front seat passenger of the Kia, Cash’s mother, 90-year-old Eleanor Heath Cash, died upon impact. The rear seat passenger, Cash’s wife, 50-year-old Donna Sue Cash, was taken to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester with serious, life-threatening injuries, and later succumbed to her injuries sustained from the crash. Allan Cash was also transported to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital.
The deceased were both residents of Cox Landing Road in Topping.
The driver of the Ford Transit van, Sherry Rena Green-Henry of Jarvis Point Road, Kilmarnock, was traveling west on Route 33 when the vehicles collided. Green-Henry and an 11-year-old passenger were both transported to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Neither alcohol nor speed were contributing factors in the crash, reported Sgt. Anaya.
Charges are pending further review from the Middlesex Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
A Virginia State Police accident reconstruction team responded and investigated the crash, said Sgt. Anaya. Route 33 was closed until 8:23 p.m. and traffic was detoured through Urbanna, said Kelly Hannon of VDOT’s Fredericksburg office.
