State police identify driver involved in fatal hit-and-run near Bealeton

Monday, Dec. 31 | By Mark Grandstaff

Virginia State Police have obtained a warrant for felony hit-and-run for the driver responsible for a fatal crash in Fauquier County on Dec. 23.

State Trooper Todd Ralls is investigating the incident, which occurred at 6:16 p.m. Sunday on Route 17 less than a mile south of Route 28. A 2004 Scion was traveling south in the right lane of Route 17 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 pickup truck, Diego Vazquez Mendoza, 32, of Culpeper, fled on foot from the scene before troopers could arrive. State police are still searching for Mendoza. His last place of residence was 400 James Madison Highway, also known as the Sleepy Hollow Motel Trailer Park, in Culpeper County.

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.

Anyone with information about Mendoza’s whereabouts is asked to please call the Virginia State Police at 540-829-7771 or email Trooper Ralls at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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