Car Crash and Gun Shots Fired On Eastern Shore Community College Campus

MELFA: Northampton man dies in car crash after shots fired at E.S. Community College

Written by
Ted Shockley
Staff Writer
MELFA — A Northampton County man was fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning after shots were fired at a private party held at Eastern Shore Community College.

Orlando Upshur, 22, of Melfa, was pronounced dead at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital after the crash, which was reported at 1:25 a.m.

Witnesses said Upshur’s vehicle and a 2002 Mercedes-Benz had left the party at the college, but police could neither confirm nor deny they had been there.


The driver of the Mercedes was traveling at “a high rate of speed” and plowed into the back of the 1993 Jeep Cherokee, ejecting Upshur and another occupant, said 1st Sgt. J-P N. Koushel, Eastern Shore Area Commander of the Virginia State Police.


The driver of the Mercedes left the scene, he said.


“We’re pretty confident that we know who the person is,” said Koushel, adding that police were awaiting the results of DNA testing.


“There was a lot of blood in the car.”


Accomack County Sheriff Todd Godwin said his office was called to fighting and gunshots at the college late Saturday evening. No arrests were made because those involved left as officers arrived.


“We did have somebody fire some shots,” he said. “They dispersed as soon as we pulled up.


The crash happened at the intersection of U.S. Route 13 and Phillips Drive, at the Tammy and Johnny’s restaurant intersection.


After being hit, the Jeep overturned along the ditchbank, rolled back into the road and was hit by a 2004 Lexus driven by a Northern Neck man.


The investigation continues by Senior Trooper B. E. Lewis. Units and personnel from Melfa, Onley, Tasley and Onancock responded.

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