UPDATE: Deputy placed on administrative leave after fatal crash near Goldvein | News

A sheriff’s office press release announced Monday that the agency is “conducting an internal review of the incident, pursuant to sheriff’s office policies and procedures.” Smith will remain on leave until the internal investigation is complete.

An independent investigation led by the Virginia State Police and the Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is ongoing and no criminal charges have been filed.

Citing the ongoing investigation, officials from the state police and the sheriff’s office declined to comment on Smith’s rate of speed at the time of the collision or on whether he was responding to a call. There has been no official indication of who — if anyone — was at fault in the crash.

Brian and Mary Dangerfield, both 65, were traveling west on Granite Street in a 2018 Toyota Camry when they stopped at a stop sign at the intersection with U.S. 17, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Brent Coffey. The Camry entered the northbound lanes of U.S. 17 at 10:20 a.m. in an attempt to cross the highway; it was struck on the driver’s side by Smith’s cruiser, which was “not able to avoid striking the Toyota,” Coffey said.

Brian Dangerfield died at the scene and Mary Dangerfield died later at Mary Washington Hospital. Smith was seriously hurt but his injuries were not life-threatening, according to the state police.

The crash occurred between Morrisville and Goldvein, a short distance from the Dangerfields’ home.

11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 27: A second person has died as the result of a Feb. 25 crash near Goldvein. Brian and Mary Dangerfield of Bealeton, both 65, have been identified as the two people who died after their car collided with a sheriff’s car at the intersection of U.S. 17 (Marsh Road) and Va. 1700 (Granite Street). 

Virginia State Police Sgt. Brent Coffey reported details of the crash investigation Sunday morning. He said that a 2018 Toyota Camry had been traveling west on Va. 1700 when it stopped at a stop sign. As the Toyota proceeded to cross the northbound lanes of U.S. 17, it pulled into the path of a Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office cruiser, a 2014 Dodge Charger. The deputy was not able to avoid striking the Toyota in the side, said Coffey. The impact caused the Toyota to overturn in the median.

Brian Dangerfield, who was driving the Toyota, died at the scene of the crash as a result of his injuries. Mary D. Dangerfield, who was a passenger in the Toyota, suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to Mary Washington Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, said Coffey. Both were wearing seatbelts.

The driver of the sheriff’s vehicle, Deputy Brock K. Smith, 25, of Amissville, was transported to Mary Washington Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries as a result of the crash. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Smith was on duty at the time of the crash.

The Virginia State Police Culpeper Division Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and is assisting with the crash investigation. The investigation remains ongoing, with assistance from the Fauquier County  Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.

2:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25: All lanes of U.S. 17 have reopened.

12:20 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25: Southbound lanes have reopened. Northbound lanes remain closed.

12:05 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25: One person was killed and two injured in Friday morning’s traffic crash on U.S. 17 after a Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office vehicle and a civilian vehicle collided, according to a state police spokesperson.

The driver of the civilian vehicle was killed and a passenger in the same vehicle sustained “life threatening” injuries, according to VSP Sgt. Brent Coffey. A Fauquier County sheriff’s deputy was seriously hurt but the injuries are not life-threatening.

“At 10:44 a.m., Friday (Feb. 25), Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 17 (Marsh Road) and Granite Street in Fauquier County,” said a VSP press release early Friday afternoon.

“A Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office vehicle was involved in the crash and the Deputy has been transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. The driver of the other vehicle is deceased and a passenger was transported to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.”

11:40 a.m., Friday, Feb. 25: One southbound lane has been reopened but both northbound lanes remain closed. Northbound traffic is being diverted via Sumerduck Road to Savannah Branch Road.

10:45 a.m., Friday, Feb. 25: As of 10:45 a.m. Friday, all lanes of U.S. 17 between Morrisville and Goldvein are closed due to traffic crash, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Culpeper District office.

The crash site is at the intersection of Granite Street and U.S. 17. “Extended closure likely, expect delays and use alternate routes,” said an announcement on Twitter.

Virginia State Police are investigating the crash. VSP Sgt. Brent Coffey said at 11 a.m. that he was working to confirm details of the incident but could not confirm any additional information.