5-Year-Old Killed in I-66 Crash

The scene at Exit 40 on I-66 was tragic as rescue crews attempted to save the life of 5-year-old Nayla Mitchel who died in a fatal four-car collision Monday morning. Photo by Stacy Shaw

Nayla P.R. Mitchel, 5, of Washington, D.C was killed in a four-vehicle accident, which occurred in the westbound lanes of I-66 in Haymarket 9:07 a.m. Monday.

According to Virginia State Police, the crash resulted from a chain reaction as a 2012 Nissan Titan pickup truck failed to brake in time and struck a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, which hit the car in front of it and that car hit another car. All westbound traffic was slowing to a stop for a work zone.

"The driver of the Nissan, Dustin D. Skidgel, 27, of Markham, Va., was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries," VSP spokesperson Corinne Geller. "He was wearing a seat belt. Skidgel was charged with reckless driving."

The driver of the Cobalt, Simone E. Rhodes, 26, of Washington, DC, and front seat passenger, Gerald S. Mitchel, 34, of Washington, D.C., were flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries, both were wearing seat belts.

"The couple's daughter, Nayla P.R. Mitchel, 5, of Washington, D.C., was secured in a booster seat in the backseat," Geller said. "She died at the scene."

The drivers of the last two vehicles were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The crash is under investigation.