Two-vehicle crash claims the life of Harrisonburg teen

Stock photoPhoto byRico Loeb/Pixabay

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Tuesday, August 8.

At 8:42 p.m., a 2010 Hyundai Elantra was traveling south on Buffalo Drive (approximately a mile west of Route 718, Old Furnace Road), when it slowed to make a left turn onto a private drive.

As the Hyundai was making the turn, a southbound 2022 Subaru BRZ, traveling behind the Hyundai, failed to slow and collided with the Hyundai. The impact of the crash caused the Subaru to leave the roadway and collide with a tree.

The driver of the Subaru, 17-year-old William Christopher Kyle of Harrisonburg, died at the scene of the crash. He was wearing a seatbelt.

A passenger in the Subaru, an 18-year-old Keezletown woman, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Sentara RMH Medical Center for treatment. She was wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 42-year-old Rockingham County man, and a juvenile passenger, were uninjured in the crash. Both were wearing seatbelts.

According to his online obituary, Kyle was a talented artist and was just weeks away from entering his freshman year of the Industrial Design program at the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University (JMU).

To honor his memory, the Kyle family will create a space at JMU that “fosters thoughtful conversations and laughter.” In lieu of flowers, and/or to donate towards the arboretum that will be created in his memory, contributions can be made to the William C. Kyle Arboretum Fund by clicking HERE.

Tuesday’s crash remains under investigation.