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Report of state park intruder in Virginia leads to fatal police pursuit

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Posted at 4:44 PM, Apr 10, 2022
and last updated 2022-04-10 16:44:09-04

STUART, Va. - A police pursuit prompted by a call about an intruder at a state park in Virginia has left an elderly man dead and a North Carolina woman charged with vehicular homicide.

Authorities say rangers at Staunton River State Park found 41-year-old Christine Barnette of Cary, North Carolina, in an unrented cabin Friday.

A vehicle pursuit began and led through several counties. It ended on Route 58 in Patrick County when Barnette crossed the median and collided head-on with a car driven by 81-year-old Bobby Wayne Gammons of Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Gammons died at the scene. Barnette was flown to a hospital with serious injuries.

Barnette has been charged with breaking and entering, reckless driving, defrauding an innkeeper, felony eluding police, trespassing and vehicular homicide.