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The family of Brian and Mary Dangerfield and Fauquier County have agreed on a $5 million settlement following a collision in which a former deputy with the Fauquier Sheriff鈥檚 Office crashed into another vehicle along U.S. 17, resulting in the Dangerfields鈥� deaths.
On Feb 25, at 10:20 a.m., a 2018 Toyota Camry traveling west on Route 1700 was proceeding to cross the northbound lanes of Route 17 after stopping at a stop sign when it pulled into the path of a 2014 Dodge Charger being driven by an on-duty Fauquier deputy, Brock K. Smith, 25, of Amissville, according to a news release from Virginia State Police.
Because Smith was traveling at a high rate of speed, he could not avoid striking the Dangerfields鈥� Toyota, which turned over onto its side.
The driver of the Toyota, Brian Dangerfield, 65, of Bealeton, died at the scene of the crash as a result of his injuries. His wife, Mary D. Dangerfield, 65, was a passenger. She later died from her injuries at Mary Washington Hospital.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Dangerfield were wearing their seatbelts.
Following the accident, the Dangerfield family sued the county for 鈥減ersonal injuries, wrongful death and other damages resulting from this incident,鈥� according to a letter by Jeffrey Breit, one of the attorneys for the family.
Breit noted in a release that the accident was 鈥渁voidable.鈥�
A settlement was reached this week between the county and Dangerfield family in which 鈥渢he full extent of insurance available for these claims鈥� 鈥� $5 million 鈥� was paid by the county, according to Tracy Gallehr, county attorney for Fauquier County.
Kevin Biniazan, also part of the Dangerfields鈥� counsel, said in a release “the family is grateful that the claims were resolved quickly and without drawn out litigation.
鈥淏ut this money could never replace the loss of Mr. and Mrs. Dangerfield,鈥� Biniazan said. 鈥淣ot a day goes by when the grandchildren don’t ask about their grandparents.鈥�
Smith was initially put on administrative leave by Fauquier Sheriff Jeremy Falls. He was eventually fired.
The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office stated 鈥渞etraining on policies for proper operation of vehicles has occurred with all Sheriff鈥檚 Office personnel 鈥� and other policies that relate to the safety of law enforcement personnel and general public have and will be on-going in the future to help avoid tragedies like this from every being repeated.鈥�
Falls did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Culpeper commonwealth鈥檚 attorney appointed a special prosecutor, Paul Walther, to review the matter, but findings have not yet been released.
Sergeant Brent Coffey, public information officer for Virginia State Police, told FauquierNow the state police has completed its investigation of the incident and submitted its findings to the commonwealth’s attorney 鈥渇or review and adjudication.鈥�
Walther did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the state police鈥檚 findings.
