Suspect Dies in Fiery Wreck on I-64 in Newport News During Police Chase

A fiery wreck following a police chase that claimed the life of a suspect, resulted in a violent end to Thanksgiving night in Newport News.

WTKR reported on how police were called to a shooting scene on Robinson Drive shortly after 8:30 pm on Thursday. They found a 26-year-old who had been shot in the upper body. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The media reported that police, who were collecting evidence at the shooting scene, spoke to witnesses who pointed to a suspect. Police gave chase and the incident resulted in a fiery crash when the suspect hit a jersey barrier near Exit 255 on I-64.

WTKR reported on how police pulled the 56-year-old Hampton man from the car and he was transported to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead from his injuries shortly after 10:30pm on Thursday.

The fiery crash led to the closure of one westbound and all eastbound lanes of I-64 on Thursday night.

We see many accidents in the Hampton Roads area in which drivers who are seeking to elude police end up dead in high speed wrecks.

In 2012, a 21-year-old from Portsmouth drove off when officers tried to pull him over for speeding.

Police gave chase but said they pulled out of the chase after it reached “dangerous speeds.” The man who sped away crashed and died in a fiery wreck in Isle of Wight County.

In October this year, a police car crashed, causing serious injuries to two Norfolk police officers on Llewellyn Avenue in Norfolk.

Recently an article in USA Today revealed how police pursuits have led to the deaths of thousands of people, including innocent bystanders. A survey found More than 5,000 bystanders and passengers died in police car chases since 1979, and tens of thousands more people suffered injuries as officers chased drivers at high speeds.

Car chases by police have killed more people than justifiable shootings but they receive less publicity. The Justice Department called them “the most dangerous of all ordinary police activities” in 1990 and encouraged police departments to adopt their policies on when chases are justified.

In many cases the pursuits related to minor traffic infractions. If you suffer injuries or lose a loved one in a police chase, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. Call our Virginia car accident attorneys for a free consultation at 757.455.0077.