WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WVEC) -- Police say a car that caused a deadly three-vehicle accident in Williamsburg on Friday night had earlier fled from a traffic stop.
The crash happened shortly before 9 p.m. at the Williamsburg/James City County line.
Virginia State Police say a 2011 Dodge Avenger was driving westbound on Monticello Avenue at a high rate of speed when it crossed the intersection at Ironbound Road and struck a 2005 Toyota Sienna van that was driving south on Ironbound. The impact caused one of the vehicles to then hit a 2005 Mercedes Benz that was also traveling south on Ironbound Road.
The driver of the Avenger, 40-year-old Leon Cowles Jr. of Williamsburg, died at the scene. Two children who were in his car, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, were taken to Riverside Regional Hospital in Newport News for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Police say the children were wearing seatbelts, but Cowles was not.
The driver of the Toyota van, 58-year-old Hamed Kamel Juma of Williamsburg, also died at the scene. His wife and two children were all taken to Riverside Regional for treatment of serious injuries. All occupants in the van were wearing their seatbelts.
The driver of the Mercedes, a 62-year-old Williamsburg man, was also taken to the hospital for serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
State Police say that prior to the crash, a Williamsburg Police officer had attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the Dodge Avenger related to an earlier incident. The Avenger fled the scene, however.
The crash remains under investigation at this time.
