Culpeper police arrest man charged with fatal Dec. 23 hit-and-run

Wednesday, Jan. 9 | By Mark Grandstaff

Culpeper police have arrested a driver they say is responsible for a Dec. 23 fatal hit-and-run in Fauquier County.

Diego Vazquez Mendoza, 32, of Culpeper, was arrested in the town of Culpeper Wednesday morning, said Virginia First Sgt. Les Tyler. Menzoda went with police without incident and is being held in Fauquier County's jail without bond, according to a release from the Virginia State Police.

State police issued a warrant for Mendoza's arrest soon after the accident on U.S. Route 17. At 6:16 p.m. that evening, a 2004 Scion was traveling south in the right lane of Route 17, less than a mile south of Route 28, when it was a rear-ended by a green, Ford-150 pickup truck. The impact pushed the Scion into a southbound 2010 Honda. Then the Scion and the pickup truck ran off the right side of the road together.

The driver of the Scion, Douglas Rabren, 58, of Stafford, Va., died at the scene. The passenger, Debra Rabren, 59, of Stafford, was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The driver of the Honda was not injured in the crash.

State police say Mendoza, who drove the pickup truck, fled on foot from the scene. According to a search warrant filed in Fauquier County, one witness said Mendoza looked intoxicated.

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