New Details Released on I-264 Virginia Beach Wreck that Killed Infant

More details have been released about a horrific accident that claimed the life of an infant and left three of her family members injured on I-264 in Virginia Beach on Monday.

The 5-month-old child lost her life in a fiery multi-vehicle crash on I-264 West at Rosemont Road on Monday afternoon, reported WAVY.com. The station identified the child.

She was in the Nissan that broke down on I-264 with her mother, father and older sister.

Virginia State Police stated that the car broke down in the travel lane. It was hit by a Chevvy Silverado pickup truck, causing the Nissan to spin around and collide with an out of service HRT bus.

LaTisha Pearl is in ICU

Flames rapidly engulfed the stricken Nissan. A 28-year-old man and a 2-year-old girl were rescued from the car but the infant lost her life in the back seat. The other child is in the Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD). Her mother LaTisha Pearl is also in ICU. WAVY reported she had a breathing tube removed on Tuesday morning.

The Virginian-Pilot reported on how Navy Corpsman Thomas Gentry, pulled the mother from the burning car on I-264. He was traveling from Virginia Beach to Norfolk on his motorcycle when he saw the broken down car. He saw the impact with the pickup truck and turned around and gave assistance. The report said the woman was unconscious. The sailor was not aware of the presence of a baby in the back of the burning car.

He said in the Pilot report he wants to talk to the family.

“I want the family to know I’m praying for them. It’s just been a challenge to know there was a baby in that car and there’s nothing you can do.”

All westbound lanes were shut down for hours after the wreck at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. A detour was in place at Lynnhaven Parkway. Traffic started moving without delays around 7:30 p.m.

Our thoughts are with this family at this tragic time. Interstate 264 is a congested and fast-moving highway. I often see drivers traveling at speeds that would make it very difficult for them to avoid slamming into broken down vehicles. You should always drive defensively and be ready to stop in case of broken down or slowed down traffic.

If you have lost a loved one in a car crash in Virginia Beach or elsewhere in Virginia, call our wrongful death attorneys at (757) 333-3333 for a free consultation.