Traffic & Transit

Driver Dies After Fleeing Traffic Stop, Crashing Into Tree In Stafford: Police

A man from Port Royal died in Stafford on Monday night after fleeing from a traffic stop and crashing into a tree.

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A driver died in Stafford County on Monday night after fleeing from a traffic stop and crashing into a tree, authorities said.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office identified the driver as 27-year-old Robert Riley of Port Royal.

Around 8 p.m. on Monday, a deputy saw a Chevrolet Silverado driving driving 76 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy stopped the speeding driver near Catfish Kelly's Country Store on Kings Highway.

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"The driver appeared to be stopping, but suddenly turned onto Little Falls Road and rapidly accelerated to approximately 80 mph," the sheriff's office said in a report.

After driving for one quarter of a mile, the fleeing driver crashed into a tree. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered fatal injuries, according to the sheriff's office.

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No other injuries were reported in the crash. The sheriff's office is still investigating the crash.

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