by Tom Chillemi
SALUDA—A head-on crash in Saluda claimed the lives of two Topping residents on Monday, September 16, reported Sgt. Michelle Anaya, Virginia State Police Division 5 public information officer.
At approximately 3:54 p.m., state police were called to investigate a two-vehicle crash on General Puller Highway, east of Gloucester Road. The crash occurred on the east side of Saluda in the curve of the two lane road where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour.
The crash investigation revealed that the driver of a 2014 Kia Soul, Allan Wayne Cash, 64, was leaving Saluda traveling east on General Puller Highway when he crossed the centerline of the roadway striking an oncoming vehicle, a 2017 Ford Transit van, head on.
The front seat passenger of the Kia, Cash’s mother, Eleanor Heath Cash, 90, died upon impact. The rear seat passenger, Cash’s wife, Donna Sue Cash, 50, was taken to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital with serious life threatening injuries and later succumbed to her injuries sustained from the crash. Cash was also transported to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital.
The deceased were both residents of Cox Landing Road in Topping.
The driver of the Ford Transit van, Sherry Rena Green-Henry of Jarvis Point Road, Kilmarnock, was traveling west on General Puller Highway when the vehicles collided. Green and an 11-year-old passenger were both transported to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Neither alcohol nor speed were contributing factors in the crash, reported Sgt. Anaya. Charges are pending further review by the Middlesex County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
A Virginia State Police accident reconstruction team responded and investigated the crash, said Sgt. Anaya. General Puller Highway was closed until 8:23 p.m. and traffic was detoured through Urbanna, said Kelly Hannon, Virginia Department of Transportation Fredericksburg District communications manager.
