This Toyota Scion was brand new, bought the day it was crashed. The driver and passengers were all injured. Photo by: KJ Mushung

One man said he could hear a car speeding up and down his street in Aquia Harbour with the stereo bass blaring. It was around 1 a.m., and someone appeared to be going for a joy ride. Then there was a tremendous noise.

Tim Dahmer yelled to his girlfriend, June Butler, to call 911. Jeff Alton, who lives across the street, had the same idea.

It was 1:20 a.m. Thursday, and a silver Toyota Scion lay sideways, crumpled among the trees at the corner of Aquia Drive and Channel Cove. Dahmer said there were three people, two males and one female, in the vehicle and that they were all conscious. He said that they were trying to get rid of evidence of beer they had with them.

According to Dahmer, the female, who an unidentified firefighter said was 18 years old, called out for someone named Amanda. According to witnesses, Amanda was also in the vehicle but left the scene and reportedly went to a friend’s house nearby in the neighborhood. Authorities confirmed that a fourth female was located but would not give any further information at the time.

Approximately a dozen police, fire and rescue vehicles from Aquia Harbour, Stafford and the Virginia State Police converged on the scene, some remaining until nearly 3 a.m. After rescue workers sent the teenagers to the hospital in ambulances, fire fighters carefully disconnected the car’s electrical system to eliminate a fire risk.

Later, police confirmed that all four occupants suffered serious injuries. Speed and alcohol appear to be factors in a crash that led to charges for the driver and two other occupants. The driver had just bought the car the day of the crash, said Major David Decatur of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

All occupants were ejected from the car when it crashed. The driver and front seat passenger were both partially ejected and had to be freed by rescue crews, said Decatur. Both were males, age 17 and 19, and suffered injuries such as broken noses, hands, arms, ribs and shoulders.

Two female occupants, ages 16 and 18, were sitting the back seat when they were completely ejected from the car. Decatur said that both suffered broken backs. Amazingly, the 16-year-old, presumably the one named Amanda, was able to get to a nearby house and call for help, added Decatur.

Daniel Ringler, 19, of Aquia Harbour, has been charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and with underage possession of alcohol, according to police.

The 17-year-old male and 16-year-old female, both Stafford County residents, also face alcohol possession charges, said Decatur. No alcohol was detected on the 18-year-old female, who is from Woodbridge but was staying with an acquaintance in Stafford at the time of the crash.

By: KJ Mushung

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