Virginia State Police update Keller accident

According to a news release by the Virginia State Police, “On today’s date, February 8, 2025, at approximately 8:05 AM, state police investigated a two vehicle crash with serious life threatening injuries on Route 13 at Keller Pond Road, in Keller, of Accomack County.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the driver of a 2016 Peterbilt propane truck, 52 year old Christopher Fritzgerald Matthews, was traveling southbound on Route 13, when he lost control of the vehicle due to road conditions. Upon losing control, the propane truck crossed over the grassy median, striking a 2018 Ford Escape head-on. The propane truck then continued off the roadway and overturned into a ditch. Matthews, of Gaskin Road, Onancock, was taken to Riverside Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

“The driver of the Ford, 38 year old Loida Tema, of Parksley, and her two juvenile passengers, suffered serious life threatening injuries. Tema was taken to Norfolk General Hospital, and a 10 year old juvenile was taken to Norfolk CHKD Hospital. The second juvenile, 14 years of age, was flown to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland.” The investigation is continuing.

“Both lanes of Rt 13 in Keller were closed until approximately 3:15 pm Saturday. Traffic was rerouted during this time.  Units from  Nassawadox, Exmore, Painter, Melfa, Wachapreague, Tasley and Onancock participated. Both lanes are currently clear.”

According to the Onancock VFD Facebook page: “Additional agencies responded to the incident from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management – Regional Hazmat Officer, Eastern Shore Regional Hazmat Team, Virginia Department of Transportation as well as local law enforcement agencies. Lankford Highway was shut down in both directions for an extended period. Due to the flammability hazards of the leaking propane, drivers were evacuated from their vehicles and sheltered in other locations.

Photo attached courtesy Onancock Vol. Fire Department.