Metro Briefs

VIRGINIA

BLACKSBURG

Tech student killed when hit by car

A Virginia Tech student was killed and another injured Saturday night when a motorist crashed into a group of students walking on campus, police said.

Christine McNabb, 20, of Manassas, was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she died. Daniel Budzenski, 19, of California, Md., also was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Both were sophomores in the College of Engineering, WSLS-TV reported.

Two other students suffered minor injuries.

Police charged Joshua Sales, 20, of Blacksburg, with expired registration on his car and not having insurance. They said Mr. Sales, who is not a Tech student, may face additional charges, although they said alcohol was not a factor.

Police said five students were walking within a crosswalk at 6:23 p.m. when they were hit.

CHANTILLY

Planes touch wings on Dulles taxiway

Two United Airlines planes were being inspected last night after their wings touched on a taxiway at Washington Dulles International Airport. No injuries were reported.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman Rob Yingling said a Boeing 737 and a smaller Embraer aircraft were both preparing for departure but were not on the runway when their wings touched just after 6 p.m. Mr. Yingling said he did not know whether passengers would have to evacuate either plane.

A week earlier, a similar incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport forced the evacuation of 63 passengers from two US Airways planes.

RICHMOND

Wildfires consume whole year’s budget

Two weeks into the spring “fire season,” the Virginia Department of Forestry has spent its entire 2008 funds for firefighting.

Spokesman John Campbell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that early estimates suggest that the outbreak of wildfires across the state two weeks ago may have cost the department about $500,000.

He said the estimate includes expenses such as gasoline and the use of helicopters.

The 348 wildfires were fueled by high winds and caused mostly by downed trees that hit electrical wires. The fires consumed nearly 16,000 acres and triggered Gov. Tim Kaine to declare a state of emergency.

Nobody was killed in the blazes.

Forestry Department officials plan to request more funding.

From wire dispatches and staff reports