Nelson man hospitalized after Amherst wreck

By Aaron Lee

Published: June 18, 2008

A Roseland man was taken to the hospital after a head-on collision between his sedan and a tractor-trailer on June 17 in Amherst County.

Trooper D.M. Ledbetter with the Virginia State Police, said the accident happened around 7 p.m. on Virginia 151 (Patrick Henry Highway) in Clifford, near the Clifford Post Office.

Ledbetter said Martin Bertoni, 35, was driving his 1991 Toyota Corolla east on Virginia 151, when he drifted over the center line, striking the tractor-trailer driven by Virgil Dowell, 47 of Faber.

Amherst County Public Safety Director Gary Roakes said Bertoni was trapped in his car for about 30 minutes.

Ledbetter said emergency crews removed the roof and the entire driver’s side of the Corolla to get Bertoni out. He was then flown by Med-Flight helicopter to Lynchburg General Hospital.

Ledbetter said Bertoni’s injuries were non-life-threatening and included a broken leg and broken fingers.

Dowell was not hurt.

Bertoni, whom Ledbetter said was not wearing his seat belt, was charged with reckless driving.