UPDATE: 18

The crash at U.S. 17 and Rokeby Road, ensuing fire and resulting injuries claimed the life of an 18-year-old from Berryville.

Virginia State Police on Friday released more information related to the Wednesday morning high-speed pursuit and crash in Fauquier County that left an 18-year-old woman dead.

The deceased has been identified as Haidan B. Smallwood, of Berryville. Smallwood, a recent Clarke County High School graduate, was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital following the car collision with a moving Norfolk Southern train in Delaplane. Smallwood died from her injuries at the hospital.

The driver of a stolen Honda who led police on the pursuit through the county, Jeremiah A.T. Greenfield, 19, of Winchester, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Charges were pending midday Friday as the crash remained under state police investigation with consultation from the Fauquier commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

A third person in the car, passenger Nakii Russell, 20, of Leesburg, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winchester Medical Center.

The incident began around midnight Tuesday into Wednesday when a Fauquier County sheriff’s deputy observed a Honda traveling near 100 mph on Route 17 northbound near the bridge at Hastings Lane.

The driver eventually hit speeds of 115 mph through the pursuit, as deputies at times pursued their chase when they deemed it too dangerous for the conditions and other drivers on the road.

When Greenfield approached Delaplane, near the intersection of U.S. 17 (Winchester Road) and Route 712 (Delaplane Grade Road), he passed multiple vehicles stopped at a railroad crossing and struck the side of the moving train around 12:22 a.m., according to Virginia State Police.

According to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy in pursuit immediately requested EMS for the driver and two passengers, extinguished a fire in the vehicle’s engine bay and rendered first aid.

The three passengers were transported to the aforementioned hospitals. The conditions of Greenfield and Russell were not immediately clear Friday.

The deceased has been identified as Haidan Smallwood, a recent Clarke County High School graduate, according to NBC 4 in Washington. The news outlet spoke with Smallwood’s family for a story Thursday.

No charges had been filed in the incident as of late Thursday.

One woman died and two men were hospitalized following a high-speed pursuit through Fauquier County early Wednesday.

According to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Jeremiah Greenfield of Winchester led law enforcement on a chase around midnight during which he hit speeds of 115 mph.

Greenfield, driving a stolen 2015 Honda Accord, eventually struck the side of a moving train at U.S. 17 and Rokeby Road in Delaplane.

The crash, ensuing fire and resulting injuries claimed the life of an 18-year-old female passenger from Berryville.

A 20-year-old passenger was also injured in the incident, as was Greenfield. Both men were transported to nearby hospitals.

Here’s the full release from the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office:

"Stolen Vehicle Crashes with Moving Train

"In the early morning hours of August 2, 2023, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Behm observed a 2015 Honda Accord driving at a high rate of speed (97 mph in a 55-mph zone) on Route 17 northbound near the bridge at Hastings Lane. The deputy, who was traveling southbound, crossed the median and activated his emergency equipment attempting to stop the vehicle for a speeding violation. Due to the driver’s high speeds, the Deputy did not catch up to vehicle until the area of O’Bannon Road, where the driver failed to stop for a second deputy who had joined the pursuit and activated his emergency equipment. The driver continued north toward Marshall, Virginia, however the pursuing deputy slowed down approaching the village, lost sight of the vehicle, and terminated his pursuit.

"The deputy entered onto westbound Route 66 to search for the vehicle and took the next exit onto Free State Road. He encountered the vehicle again at the intersection of Free State Road and Grove Lane, where the driver nearly struck the deputy’s vehicle. The driver entered onto Route 66 westbound with the deputy again in pursuit. Driving at over 115 mph, the deputy could not gain on the driver, lost sight of him near exit 23, but continued north on Highway 17 where he again terminated his pursuit considering the high rate of speed, the two-lane road, and safety of other drivers.

"Continuing to search the area for the vehicle in the vicinity of Delaplane, Virginia, the deputy located it near the intersection of Highway 17 and Rokeby Road, where the driver had passed multiple vehicles stopped at the railroad crossing and had struck the side of a moving train. The deputy immediately requested EMS for the driver and two passengers, extinguished a fire in the vehicle’s engine bay, and rendered first aid.

"A 20-year-old male passenger from Leesburg was transported to Winchester Medical Center. A second passenger, an 18-year-old female from Berryville was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the vehicle 19-year-old Jeremiah Greenfield of Winchester was also flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital. The vehicle was discovered to have been reported stolen from Winchester, Virginia. The Virginia State Police is investigating the crash and the stolen vehicle."

We need to compliment our sheriff's officers for being primarily concerned about the safety of those not involved. We appreciate it.

It's been like the Dukes of Hazzard around here lately.

Sad situation, but stupidity always has consequences. Kudos to law enforcement for taking their surroundings & others into consideration during this pursuit.

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