Holiday Weekend Results in Three Crash Deaths and Injuries in Hampton Roads

The long weekend is not over yet, but local headlines have been dominated by crashes in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk and Surry County that have claimed three lives and left others injured.

Every year official warnings are issued over the dangers of drinking and driving, but they are not always heeded.

News media reported that Virginia State Police arrested a 32-year-old man from Chesapeake on a DUI charge after a crash on Christmas Day that killed a man on I-664 in Newport News and injured four others.

He is being held in jail on several charges, including driving under the influence, maiming, and reckless driving.

Virginia State Police accuse the driver of causing a crash on I-664 in Newport News that killed 50-year-old Michael Smith from Chesapeake. His wife, Sharolyn, and their three children were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with serious injuries. The crash occurred on the interstate, close to the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.

I was saddened to read about this unnecessary loss of life. If you have lost a loved one or been injured due to a drunk driver, you have a strong case to file a claim against that driver’s insurance policy. At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers we never defend drunk drivers. We sue them.

Also on the Peninsula, a moped rider died on Saturday night in a collision with a PT Cruiser in Hampton.

An accident at Victoria Boulevard and Lombard Street that involved a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser and a 2002 Zhejiang Moped killed one man on Saturday night, according to Hampton Police.

Hampton Police responded to a motorcycle crash in the 2200 block of Victoria Boulevard just after 9 p.m. They found a moped rider who was suffering from critical injuries in the road. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead

WAVY.com reported the driver of the PT Cruiser was traveling westbound on Victoria Boulevard and was attempting to make a left turn onto Lombard Street. The car was then struck by the moped that was traveling eastbound. The circumstances of this crash are not clear but we see many cases in which motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured by drivers who don’t see them while making a turn.

Another fatal accident occurred in Surry County. According to Virginia State Police, 85-year old Albert Simpson, from Spring Grove in Virginia was pulling out at a stop sign when he was hit by another car.

As well as fatal accidents a number of wrecks left drivers and passengers injured in Hampton Roads over the holiday. In Virginia Beach, five people were injured in a crash on Virginia Beach Boulevard.

In Norfolk a two-vehicle accident on Saturday afternoon sent three people, including a police officer, to the hospital.

WAVY.com reported a police officer was driving north in the 6900 block of Tidewater Drive on Saturday afternoon with his lights and sirens activated, when another vehicle pulled out in front of the cruiser as it was crossing to Thole street. The officer crashed into the other car and was treated for injuries along with the adult passengers of the other vehicle.

Norfolk police say the other driver failed to yield at the intersection of Tidewater Drive and Thole Street. No charges have been filed yet in the incident. They are reported to be pending completion of an investigation.

On Route 58 in Suffolk, the driver of an SUV hit a jersey wall early on Sunday and was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. No other vehicles were involved.

WAVY.com also reported on how an 11-year-old child had been hit by a car on Saturday in the 1200 block of Dune Street in Norfolk. It was not clear from reports whether the child suffered injuries.

My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in Hampton Roads over the holiday weekend and those who were injured. If you have been drinking alcohol, you should never get behind the wheel. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one due to the actions of another driver, call us for a free consultation at 757.455.0077.