A junior at Warhill High School is in critical condition after a car he was riding in struck a sign and flipped over as school was letting out Monday.
According to Deputy Chief Steve Rubino of the James City County Police Department, the 17-year-old student was a passenger in a 2016 Mazda hatchback, driven by an 18-year-old senior.
At about 2:30 p.m., the vehicle veered off the right side of Stadium Road, near the high school, and struck a sign. The impact caused the vehicle to be projected into the air and flip several times. The car landed on its roof, Rubino said.
The 17-year-old passenger was pinned under the vehicle. He had not been wearing his seat belt, Rubino said.
He was taken to MCV Campus at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond and was in critical condition Tuesday morning, Rubino said.
The driver had been wearing his seat belt and was treated for minor injuries on scene.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Rubino said police had “no plans” to release the name of the driver. The passenger is a minor, and police typically do not release the names of minors.
Rubino said heavy afternoon rainfall may have been a factor in the crash.
“People need to be mindful of the road conditions for standing water,” Rubino said. “They need to make sure they are reducing their speed and increasing their stopping distance any time there is heavy rainfall.”
The cause of the crash was under investigation and there were no charges against the driver as of 10 a.m. Tuesday.
