Fatal Virginia Thanksgiving Crashes Rose Year-on Year in 2017

The holidays typically mean a surge in serious accidents on the highways of Virginia. The number of fatal Virginia Thanksgiving crashes increased in 2017, according to state police.

Preliminary reports from Virginia State Police show that 10 people lost their lives on Virginia’s highways over the Thanksgiving weekend, an increase from 2016 when seven people died over the long weekend.

This Thanksgiving the highways of Hampton Roads were spared any fatal accidents, unlike in many previous years.

However, fatal Virginia Thanksgiving crashes were reported in Richmond, and the counties of Fairfax, Spotsylvania, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford and, Caroline.

The wrecks claimed the lives of eight drivers, one passenger, and a pedestrian, according to Virginia State Police.

The walker died in the City of Richmond. Police said 50-year-old Edward F. Brown was killed on the 600 block of Effingham Drive in Richmond. He was struck by car at the intersection of Cowardin Avenue and Bainbridge Street on the city’s Southside.

A report on WTVR.com noted as of Nov. 27, there were 737 reported traffic deaths in Virginia, compared to 664 at the same time last year.

Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, said in the wake of the report he was alarmed at the number of fatal Thanksgiving crashes and the statistics in general. He said:

“The increase in fatal crashes throughout this year is troubling and should be of serious concern to all Virginians. Tragically, there will be at least 700 families heading into the holiday season mourning the loss of a loved one because of a traffic crash on a Virginia highway.”

He urged Virginians to make the last remaining weeks of 2017 safer for everyone by wearing seat belts, driving sober and free of distractions.

Over the 2017 Thanksgiving weekend, Virginia State Police troopers said they also:

• Cited 8,016 speeding drivers
• Cited 2,465 reckless drivers
• Arrested 102 drivers for DUI.
• Cited 589 motorists for safety belt violations and 205 for child restraint violations
• Investigated 998 traffic wrecks, in which nine proved to be fatal
• Helped 2,635 disabled motorists.

Every year drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians are killed on the highways of Virginia through no fault of their own. The number of deaths is often elevated over the holidays because people drink alcohol at their homes or parties.

If you have been injured or lost a family member due to the fault of another driver on the roads of Virginia, please call our car accident injury team at (757) 455-0077.