District Nurse Killed in Dulles Toll Road Crash

Marieta Rafanan Abejon,  50-year-old nurse, who lived in Washington, was riding with four friends Friday night when she was killed in a three-car accident on the Dulles Toll Road, authorities said Monday.

 Richard J. Rudolphe, 52, of  Herndon, the driver of one of the cars, was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated,  He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, according to a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates the Toll Road.  The Airports Authority has its own police force which patrols the Toll Road.

Authorities gave this account of the accident: About 8:20 Friday night, five ladies, including Ms. Abejon, were riding westbound on the Dulles Toll Road. After they went through the EZ Pass lanes at the Main Toll Plaza, the driver stopped for some reason.  The car was struck from behind. This was the first of two separate collisions that occurred. The driver of the first vehicle that struck them pulled over to the side of the road. This driver Richard J. Rudolphe,  was charged later that night with driving while intoxicated. He was not injured.
 
The more serious crash happened a few moments later when the ladies’ car was struck again by a second vehicle.  Abejon sustained fatal injuries in the second crash. The other four ladies in the car, along with the driver of the second vehicle that struck them, were all transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital.

A total of six people were taken to Inova Fairfax  Hospital. Authorities would not identify the others involved in the accident, the spokesperson said.

No charges have been filed against the two other drivers involved. The Airports Authority Police will present the evidence collected during our investigation to the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office. The prosecutors office will determine what—if any—other charges may be placed, the Airports Authority spokesperson said.
 
 There were no passengers in either of the vehicles that struck the car carrying Abejon.

Abejon was originally from the Philippines, according to her nursing license. She work at St. Thomas More Medical Complex in Hyattsville,  according to information on her Facebook page.  She is married and has a family.