ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 15, 1995                   TAG: 9508150066
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WOMAN, 29, DIES IN CAR CRASH

A Smith Mountain Lake woman who police said had been drinking lost control of her car Sunday evening on Virginia 616 near Wirtz and was hit by oncoming traffic. She died about four hours later at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Pamela J. Wszolek, 29, was driving east on 616 near Virginia 834 about 7 p.m. when the car's right tires dropped off the side of the road, according to Trooper Tim Harris.

Wszolek steered her car back on the road and lost control. The car began sliding sideways in the westbound lane and was hit on the passenger side.

She was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital to be stabilized. Transport to Roanoke Memorial Hospital was delayed because LifeGuard 10 was on another call.

When the helicopter was available, it flew Wszolek to Roanoke Memorial, where she died during surgery about 10:45 p.m.

Wszolek was wearing a seat belt, according to Harris.

Harris said empty and full beer cans were in Wszolek's car and he believes the alcohol was a factor in the accident. He would not say what Wszolek's blood-alcohol level was.

The driver of the second car, Mark K. McDonald, 37, of Harrisonburg, was treated and released from Community Hospital. His 8-year-old son, Tyler Mark McDonald, was listed in critical condition Monday night at Community.

The elder McDonald saw the car lose control in front of him and slammed on the brakes, Harris said. But McDonald's car slid just 37 feet before impact.

``There was no way he could have avoided it,'' Harris said.

Wszolek's car was traveling at least 55 miles per hour, Harris said. McDonald's car was traveling about 45 mph.

Wszolek worked for Signet Mortgage Corporation and was a Virginia Tech graduate.

Keywords:
FATALITY 


 by CNB