PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Virginia — Nearly two years after a deadly hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95, 50-year-old James A. Puryear of Kingstowne has surrendered to Virginia State Police in connection with the death of a tractor-trailer driver.

The crash occurred around 5:05 a.m. on November 19, 2023, when a 2005 Infiniti G35 sideswiped a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia driven by 31-year-old truck driver Trenton Schnakenberg on southbound I-95 near the 158-mile marker in Prince William County.

According to the Virginia State Police (VSP), the impact forced the tractor-trailer off the left side of the highway, where it struck a guardrail and a support column. The Infiniti driver fled the scene, leaving Schnakenberg dead inside the wrecked truck.

After an almost two-year investigation, Puryear turned himself in on Thursday morning at the Prince William–Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center.

He faces multiple charges, including:

• Involuntary manslaughter

• Possession with intent to manufacture or sell a Schedule I/II controlled substance

• Felony hit-and-run resulting in injury or death

Authorities said Puryear’s arrest was the result of coordinated efforts between several agencies, including the VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation Fairfax Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) – Washington/Baltimore Field Office.

“This case demonstrates the strength of interagency cooperation and the shared commitment to bringing justice to victims and their families,” officials said.

Puryear is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, November 3.

According to FFXNow, the crash had remained under active investigation since 2023, with law enforcement tracking leads that ultimately led to Puryear’s surrender this week.

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