Teen flips car on Va. 24

By Dave Thompson

Published: October 8, 2008

A Salem teenager flipped his vehicle three times in a Wednesday afternoon accident near Stewartsville, but escaped with only minor injuries, according to state police.

Trooper R.L. Johnson said he was amazed that 18-year-old Ryan Dooley, of Salem, walked away from the wreck that totaled his 1990 Subaru station wagon.

“He’s lucky to be alive,” Johnson said, “because the roof was caved in on the passenger’s side.” Dooley, he said, stands about 6-foot-4.

At about 5:10 p.m., Johnson said, Dooley was driving the vehicle west on Virginia 24 near its intersection with Lovers Lane near Stewartsville.

At a sweeping left curve, his right wheels ran off the side of the road. He swerved back into the road, but overcorrected to the right, striking the embankment.

Johnson said he didn’t believe excessive speed was a factor, just a bad overcorrection, but charged Dooley with reckless driving.

Dooley was wearing his seatbelt at the time, Johnson said, which probably helped save his life.

“I told him the good Lord was riding with him,” Johnson said.

Police cleared the scene at about 6:30, after about 50 minutes of heavy traffic delays.