Stuarts Draft
Augusta County, Virginia
Latest update from VSP at 1:20 PM – 8.12.24
“Three people (two men and a woman) were ejected from the van and died at the scene. They have been identified as Abner Comete, 48, of Boynton Beach, Fla., Jacner Comete, 44, of Lauderhill, Fla., and Wilda Comete, 38, of Lithia Springs, Ga. Abner Comete is believed to be the driver of the passenger van.
A fourth passenger, Ronide P. Louis, 28, of Lithia Springs, Ga., who was in the front seat and wearing a seatbelt, survived. Louis was taken first to Augusta Health, and then to UVA Health with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.”
Latest update from VSP at 9:24 AM – 8.12.24
“Virginia State Police is investigating a triple fatal crash involving a passenger van and train that occurred at approximately 8:08 p.m. Monday (Aug. 12, 2024) on tracks near Wayne Avenue in the town of Stuarts Draft in Augusta County.
A 2019 Ford transit van was traveling along a private drive, heading towards Wayne Ave, when it crossed train tracks located in the area. A train travelling northbound on the tracks then struck the van, causing the van to roll over.
Three people (two men and a woman) were ejected from the van and died at the scene. A fourth passenger, who was in the front seat and wearing a seatbelt, survived. That passenger, a woman, was taken to UVA Health with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Virginia State Police is still working to notify next-of-kin.
The crash remains under investigation.
Matthew Demlein
Public Relations Manager
Virginia State Police“
As we first told you Monday night in this post below on our BRL Facebook page, a van that was hit by an oncoming train claimed the life of 3 people attempting to cross the tracks in a passenger van.
Virginia State Police released some preliminary information shortly after the crash, but didn’t confirm the fatalities at that time. We were able to independently confirm the deaths. Other news outlets were reporting the same.
We will have updates on this story throughout the day as they become available.
