1 killed, 7 hurt in crash on I-95 in Chesterfield

A woman suffered fatal injuries and seven other people were sent to hospitals yesterday after a van headed to a family reunion collided with a sport utility vehicle on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County.

Valarie Robinson, 52, of Far Rockaway, N.Y., died from her injures at VCU Medical Center, said Virginia State Police Sgt. Thomas J. Molnar.

The van was headed south on I-95 from New York to North Carolina for the reunion when the wreck happened about 6:20 a.m. near the Chippenham Parkway exit, Molnar said.

The van's driver, Carl Rose, 51, fell asleep, and the van hit a guardrail and then collided with the SUV in the southbound lanes, Molnar said. Neither of the two people in the SUV was hurt, but seven people in the van in addition to Robinson were injured. Three children in the van, from ages 1 to 4, were not in child-safety seats, Molnar said.

The 1-year-old child and another person, both of whom had life-threatening injuries, were taken to VCU Medical Center, Molnar said. The other five were taken to Chippenham Hospital.

Molnar said it was unclear whether anyone in the van was wearing a seat belt.

Rose was charged with reckless driving. State trooper M.S. Meyers is handling the investigation.

Robinson's death brings to 407 the number of statewide highway fatalities this year, compared with 477 at the same time last year.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .