A woman has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and alcohol offenses over a Newport News wrong way crash that killed a man.
Police said the woman was driving a 2013 Chrysler northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 644 when she struck a Honda Accord head-on.
The woman is accused of driving the wrong way on the interstate close to the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel last week.
The head-on crash at 1:30 a.m. on June 8 led to the death of Leonardo Maldonado. The woman who hit him reportedly fled the scene and was later found at Sentara Hampton Careplex. Our thoughts are with Mr. Maldonado’s family after this senseless tragedy.
The woman has also been charged with Fail Stop Accident/Felony Death and Civil Violation – Refused Blood/Breath Test, according to TV station reports.
Wrong way drivers frequently cause head-on crashes. There are few things more frightening than driving on a fast interstate like I-664 and seeing a car heading toward you. In these circumstances, there is little time to take evasive action.
A high proportion of wrong way crashes in Virginia are caused by drunk drivers. Wrong way crashes are typically more deadly than other kinds of wrecks.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, wrong way crashes kill as many as 300 to 400 people each year on average, representing about one percent of the total number of traffic-related deaths on the roads of America.
Although this is a small percentage overall, wrong way driver crashes are typically more severe than other types of crashes.
However, there are many strategies that national and state agencies can consider to address wrong-way maneuvers, ranging from improving design elements, to conventional traffic control devices, and information technology-based solutions. Design elements may be less effective at addressing wrong way crashes caused by drunk drivers.
Studies suggest as many as 70 percent of wrong way drivers are drunk. Elderly people are disproportionately represented too, suggesting older drivers are more likely to become confused about which direction they should be Heading in.
We hope you are never involved in a crash involving a wrong way driver in Virginia. If you are hurt by a wrong way driver or an intoxicated driver, you may be severely injured and need to recover as much as you can. Tragically, drivers like Mr. Maldonado paid with their lives. Call our Newport News wrongful death drivers if you have lost a family member at (757) 455-0077.