Driver Charged With DUI After Hitting Three Motorcycles

Two of the five people injured in a recent multi-vehicle crash near Deerfield in which one driver was charged with driving under the influence remained in the University of Virginia Medical Center as of May 31.

According to hospital spokesman Peter Jump, 50-year-old Verona resident Marti Krupinski and 43-year-old Christine Hinkle, the passenger on the 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by Krupinski, were both listed in fair condition.

Three others injured in the crash were released from Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville after undergoing treatment.

According to Virginia State Police Trooper Timothy Simmons, 33-year-old Sean Stanton was westbound in a 1997 Toyota Tacoma on Route 250 on May 30, when he ran off the right side of the road in a curve, overcorrected, and collided with three eastbound motorcycles.

Simmons said police charged Stanton with second-offense DUI.

According to Doug Morris, fire chief of the Deerfield Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to the incident along with state police, the collision occurred approximately 1.5 miles past the intersection of Route 629, not far from Shenandoah Mountain near the Highland County-Augusta County line.

Simmons said that Krupinski was driving the lead motorcycle in the group and two motorcycles driven by females followed. He said all of them were injured, some of which were serious.

Krupinski and Hinkle required air transport to U.Va. Medical Center in Charlottesville, two people received air transport to Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville, and another received ambulance transport to AMC.

Simmons said that it was very rare for two helicopters to be required for one wreck.

Simmons said Stanton suffered the least-serious injuries in the crash.

According to Simmons, the motorcycle riders were part of a large contingent on a ride to raise money for children.