THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120580
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Donald Gillikin of Chesapeake on Thursday relived the terror of the head-on automobile collision in Arizona that killed five people, including his wife and father-in-law.
``The lady drifted over into our lane,'' Gillikin, 53, said from his bed at Flagstaff Medical Center. ``We all saw her. There was nowhere to go. There was nothing to do.''
The collision occurred Tuesday afternoon on two-lane U.S. Route 89 about 20 miles north of Flagstaff.
Guardrails prevented the 1995 Mercury minivan carrying five Virginia tourists from avoiding the 1995 Ford Escort that drifted across the center line. Three people in the Escort, including a 3-month-old boy, were killed.
Gillikin's father-in-law, 71-year-old John R. Marshall of the 1100 block of Baskerville Lane in Portsmouth, was driving the van. Marshall and his daughter, Judith Gillikin, 51, died at the scene.
Donald Gillikin and his sisters-in-law - Jean Wood and Juanita MacDonald, both of Chesapeake - were admitted to Flagstaff Medical Center with serious injuries. The family planned to visit the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and California.
Lewis Marshall, John Marshall's brother, said the family was headed out west to visit relatives.
``This was kind of like a dream trip to get everyone together and restart,'' said Lewis Marshall, of Suffolk.
Sgt. Rick Watling, a state highway patrol spokesman in Flagstaff, said the minivan was going north and the Escort, south.
Gillikin was right, Watling said: ``There was nothing they could do.''
Both vehicles appeared to be traveling the 55-mph speed limit, Watling said.
Investigators were not sure why the Escort's driver veered into the minivan.
``We're speculating it was either fatigue or inattention from what witnesses have told us,'' Watling said.
Gillikin, who was seated in the rear of the minivan, said he could not get others out of the damaged vehicle until a trucker stopped to help.
``I remember trying to get people out . . . trying to get the doors open,'' said Gillikin, who is a project manager at the Louise W. Eggleston Center in Norfolk, a sheltered workshop.
Police and ambulances arrived a few minutes later.
Marshall and Judith Gillikin, who was a bookkeeper at Baker's Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Norfolk, as well as the three occupants of the Escort, died at the scene.
The Escort's occupants were identified as driver Vicky Hosteen, 22; Mae Adams, 68; and Lionel Benally, the infant, all of Cameron, Ariz., just north of the accident site.
Wood, 40, who lives on Taylor Road in Chesapeake, suffered bone fractures and head injuries. She was listed in fair condition Thursday afternoon.
MacDonald, 42, of the 4300 block of Terry Drive in Chesapeake, had multiple trauma injuries. She was listed in serious condition.
Donald Gillikin suffered broken ribs, a knee and back injury and torn ligaments. He was listed in good condition.
``It's been rough,'' he said.
The family left Saturday morning for a three-week trip, Gillikin said.
He and Wood, who works at a horse stable, may fly back to Chesapeake by the weekend.
But MacDonald, an insurance company employee in Churchland, may be hospitalized for more than a week.
Watling said everyone was wearing seat belts and the infant was in a safety seat.
``This is one of those where seat belts would not have made a difference,'' Watling said.
Friends and neighbors were devastated by the news.
Carl Overstreet, Marshall's neighbor on Baskerville Lane, said he could hardly believe Marshall had been killed.
``He's one of those few who does everything right,'' said Overstreet. ``He's just an absolute, wonderful man. He always had something nice to say.'' ILLUSTRATION: Map
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT PLANE FATALITIES INJURIES by CNB