Sacrifice of Madison County 5 cars identified

Madison County, VA (currently CVIL)-the state police in Virginia identified the person who was killed on May 18, 2025 in a five-car accident in Madison County.

Masashi Kawasaki, 69, from Charlottesville, died to the hospital in transport. He was a passenger in the back seat in the last vehicle in a red light. He was wearing a seat belt.

The crash occurred at 4:35 p.m. at the intersection of Route 29 (S Seminole Trail) and the Route 230 (Wolftown Hood RD).

A 2017 Volkswagen Golf, a 2024 Hyundai Tucson, a 2021 Ford F150 and a 2024 Subaru -outback traveled south on Route 29 when they were all slowed down or stopped at a red light. A 2023 Ford F350, which also drove south, could not stop and collided with the Volkswagen, in which a chain reaction accident was triggered with all five vehicles.

The driver of the Ford F350, Thomas J. Whittle, 38, from Floyd, Va., Was not injured. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 69-year-old woman from Charlottesville, Virginia, and a 74-year-old passenger in the front seats had serious but not life-threatening injuries and were brought to the UVA Medical Center for treatment. Both wore seat belts. After the car had put the last snake in line, it took the main load of the crash, which led to Kawasaki, who was in the back seat and succumbed to his injuries during the transport.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 25-year-old from Great Britain, was not injured. A 38-year-old male passenger and a 32-year-old male passenger suffered both minor injuries and were brought to the UVA Medical Center for treatment. All wore seat belts.

The driver of the Ford F150, a 49-year-old man from Charlottesville, Virginia, suffered minor injuries and was brought to the UVA Medical Center for treatment. He was wearing a seat belt.

The driver of Subaru, a 50-year-old woman from Charlottesville, Virginia, and an 11-year-old passenger were not injured in the accident. Both wore seat belts.

The crash examination and cleaning closed Route 29 towards the south for about 5 hours. Vdot assisted the roadway closure and the detour.

Whittle was accused of ruthlessly driving and wearing a seat belt.

The crash is examined.