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PRINCE GEORGE, Prince George County, Va., Oct. 5, 2026 — A Virginia State Police trooper was hospitalized Sunday morning, October 4, after a wrong-way driver struck his patrol vehicle head-on on Interstate 295 in Prince George County. The trooper's injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.
State police said a driver was headed south in the northbound lanes of I-295 after multiple callers reported a vehicle traveling the wrong way. A trooper driving north near the 5-mile marker was reportedly moving to intercept the car when he found it approaching him "at a high rate of speed," according to the agency.
Troopers said the trooper had his emergency lights activated and was slowing down when the wrong-way vehicle hit his car head-on. He was taken to an area hospital afterward.
The other driver, identified by state police as 71-year-old Edward Junious Whitby of Newport News, was evaluated at the scene before being arrested. He has since been charged with driving under the influence and driving the wrong way on a highway.
The crash remains under review. We hope those who were hurt recover fully.
How Investigators Piece Together a Wrong-Way Crash
Work at the scene of a wrong-way collision starts long before anyone can say exactly what happened. Troopers measure skid marks, map debris fields, and photograph vehicle damage to help reconstruct speed and the angle of impact. None of that happens quickly, and a scene on a busy interstate often has to be partly reopened before the full documentation is finished.
Toxicology results, if blood or urine samples are drawn, are processed at a state lab and can take weeks to come back. Investigators also pull data from vehicle event recorders when available, interview witnesses, and cross check 911 call logs against the timeline they are building. A charge can be filed quickly based on what officers observe at the scene, but a completed crash report that ties together speed, cause, and contributing factors usually takes longer.
Agencies also tend to hold back details until they are confirmed and next of kin have been notified, which is part of why early reports often describe only broad strokes. That caution is meant to protect the accuracy of the record, not to withhold information for its own sake.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers without valid licenses had a higher risk of fatal wrong-way crashes on divided highways in 2014 through 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are wrong-way crashes so often serious?
Because both vehicles are typically closing at highway speed, the combined impact speed in a head-on wrong-way crash is much higher than in a typical rear-end or side-impact collision, leaving drivers little time to react.
What time of day do wrong-way crashes happen most?
They cluster late at night and in the early morning hours, when impaired or disoriented drivers are more likely to enter a highway in the wrong direction and traffic is light enough that the error can go uncorrected for miles.
What should I do if I see a car driving the wrong way?
Slow down, move to the right lane if possible, and call 911 with your location and direction of travel. Do not try to flag the driver down or pursue the vehicle yourself.
What to Do After a Wrong-Way Crash in Prince George, VA
If you are involved in or witness a wrong-way crash, call 911 immediately and stay in a safe location away from traffic if you can. Even if you feel fine, get checked by a medical provider since injuries like whiplash or internal bruising are not always obvious right away.
Write down what you remember as soon as you are able, including the time, direction of travel, and any details about the other vehicle, while the memory is fresh. Keep a copy of the police report and any medical records in case you need them later, and give yourself time to process what happened. These events are frightening, and it is normal to need support afterward.
