Driver was Killed when he was Ejected from a Modified Car in Chesapeake

Modified cars are not common sights on the streets of Hampton Roads. We were saddened to read about the death of a 24-year-old who was ejected from a modified car in Chesapeake over the weekend.

Police are investigating a deadly weekend accident just after 9 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Eden Way North and Savory Crescent.

News reports stated Chesapeake police initially thought the wreck involved a sedan and a go-kart. Police later revised the description to that of a heavily modified Honda Civic. The car was registered through Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles but it was not street legal due to its modifications.

The driver of the Civic, 24-year-old Anthony Dillard, was killed when he was hit by a sedan and ejected from a modified car in Chesapeake, police confirmed.

WAVY.com reported Chesapeake police are still investigating whether speed or the modifications to the Honda were factors in this wreck.

The Channel reported how Dillard’s social media accounts detailed his love for what he called the “Kart Lyfe”.

Under Virginia code, there are strict regulations related to the modification of cars.

It is illegal to drive on a public highway in a passenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground if its bumpers are not within the range of 14 to 22 inches above the ground.

The range of bumper heights for motor vehicles bearing street rod license plates under 46.2-747 can be 9 to 22 inches.

No vehicle in Virginia can be modified to cause its body or chassis to come into contact with the ground, expose a fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under the car’s normal operation.

No part of the vehicle’s suspension system can be removed. However, it is lawful to install heavy-duty equipment such as shock absorbers and overload springs. The law does not apply to the wear and tear of a suspension system as long as that wear or tear does not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.

It is also illegal to operate on a public highway if a vehicle has been modified by any means to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to any manufacturer’s spacers and bushings, above the vehicle’s original frame rail or the manufacturer’s attachment points on the frame rail.

At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we help people who have been injured in the City of Chesapeake as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. We also assist the family members of deceased drivers and passengers killed by the fault of another driver. Please contact us today for a free consultation.