WILLIAMSBURG — The driver of an SUV that struck and seriously injured a William & Mary student nearly two months ago told police he didn’t see anyone before the collision.
That’s according to an affidavit for a search warrant filed in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court in the week after the Oct. 26 crash.
Police identified the driver as Cliff Fleet, the president and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The day of the crash, police said charges were pending, but there have been no updates on the investigation since. Last week, Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green said that his office was still waiting to receive the final report from the Virginia State Police before making a determination on charges.
The morning of Oct. 26, Rosemary Raynal, a 21-year-old junior, was crossing Richmond Road near the Armistead Avenue intersection near the William & Mary campus when she was struck by Fleet’s black Audi SUV. Raynal suffered a number of injuries, including fractures in her hip, scapula and skull as well as brain trauma.
Following the crash, Raynal was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she remained in intensive care for nearly a week before she was transferred to a traumatic brain injury center in Raleigh, North Carolina, near where her family lives.
An initial news release indicated that speed did not appear to be a factor.
Since then, inquiries on the status of the investigation have revealed no new information. Sgt. Michelle Anaya, a state police spokeswoman, said in an email that a report would be provided to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office once completed.
According to documents filed in court Nov. 3, the driver told police he was listening to music playing from the entertainment system at the time of the crash. A state police investigator asked to search the 2023 Audi Q8’s “infotainment module,” which is “capable of, and known to, store electronic data relating to the use and movement of the vehicle,” the affidavit said.
Investigators obtained a printout of the “front radar/warning/cruise control fault list,” according to court documents.
The stretch of road where the crash occurred has a 25 mph speed limit and is a main thoroughfare for William & Mary students. A number of crosswalks are along the stretch of road, marked with bright yellow signs and some with flashing lights that can be activated by walkers.
Raynal’s mother said police told her Rosemary entered the crosswalk on Richmond Road and looked both ways before she was struck. In November, Ann Brooke Raynal said that the timeline for recovery could be weeks to years. The family recently declined further comment.
Sian Wilkerson, 757-342-6616, sian.wilkerson@pilotonline.com
Police said charges were pending in crash that injured William & Mary student. 2 months later, none have come. - Daily Press
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