79-Year-Old Woman Dies In Crash On Christmas Morning: Police

SOUTH RIDING, VA — The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating a two vehicle crash that killed a South Riding woman and left two other people with life-threatening injuries. The crash occurred around 8:20 a.m. Christmas Day on Route 50 near South Riding Boulevard.

The driver of a pickup truck, Martin V. Chavez, 56, of Sterling allegedly ran into the back of a sedan that killed Rashida Begum, 79, a passenger in the sedan, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Chavez was charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. He is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on no bond.

The sedan, with five occupants, was stopped at a red light when it was struck from behind by a pickup truck driven by Chavez. Two other occupants of the sedan were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and two other occupants were taken to the hospital with injuries from which they are expected to recover, according to the sheriff's office.

A passenger in the pickup truck was transported to the hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the Loudoun sheriff's office's Crash Reconstruction Unit. Anyone who witnessed the crash and who has not already spoken to law enforcement is asked to contact Investigator D. Lake at 703-777-1021.