MADISON COUNTY, VA – A chain-reaction crash involving five vehicles on Sunday afternoon resulted in the death of a Charlottesville man and left several others injured, according to Virginia State Police.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:35 p.m. on May 18, 2025, at the intersection of Route 29 (S Seminole Trail) and Route 230 (Wolftown-Hood Road). According to authorities, a group of four vehicles was slowing or stopped for a red light in the southbound lanes of Route 29.

A fifth vehicle, a 2023 Ford F-350 also traveling southbound, failed to stop in time and collided with the last vehicle in the line, a 2017 Volkswagen Golf. The initial impact triggered a chain-reaction, causing the Volkswagen to be pushed into the other stopped vehicles, which included a 2024 Hyundai Tucson, a 2021 Ford F-150, and a 2024 Subaru Outback.

A passenger in the Volkswagen, identified as Masashi Kawasaki, 69, of Charlottesville, was critically injured in the crash. He was transported from the scene but tragically succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital. He was reportedly in the backseat of the vehicle and wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 69-year-old female, and a 74-year-old female front-seat passenger, both also from Charlottesville, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment. Both were wearing seatbelts.

The driver of the Ford F-350 that initiated the collision, identified as Thomas J. Whittle, 38, of Floyd, Va., was not injured. State Police noted that he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Multiple other individuals involved in the pile-up sustained minor injuries and were also transported to UVA Medical Center.

Southbound lanes of Route 29 were closed for approximately five hours as emergency crews worked to clear the scene and investigate the crash. The Virginia Department of Transportation assisted with a detour for traffic.

Virginia State Police have charged Mr. Whittle with reckless driving and failure to wear a seatbelt. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.