Death of a Highway Worker in Virginia Beach Highlights Work Zone Dangers

Work zones in Virginia are hazardous places for drivers and construction workers alike. We are saddened to learn about the death of a highway worker in Virginia Beach during a deadly weekend in Hampton Roads.

Toney Darnell Saunders, Jr., 43, from Chesapeake, was the passenger in a construction truck when he was killed on Sunday night, according to media reports.

Virginia State Police said Mr. Saunders was working on Interstate 64 in Virginia Beach when he lost his footing and was run over by a vehicle. Our thoughts are with his family at this tragic time.

Virginia State Police said the worker was on a 2018 Hino model 195 construction truck carrying barrels and road cones in a work zone on the interstate. Mr. Saunders lost his footing and fell from the truck’s cargo area onto the road where he was backed over by the vehicle.

A report on WTKR.com stated the truck involved in the accident is owned by Spivey Rental Inc. No charges were brought on the day of the accident.

The death of a highway worker in Virginia Beach once again highlights the hazards faced by personnel working on our interstates and other roads.

Every year hundreds of workers die on the highways. According to the Federal Highway Administration, a total of 765 people lost their lives in work zones in 2016, a 7 percent increase on 2015.

A work zone crash occurs every 5.4 minutes in the United States. About 70 construction zone crashes with injuries occur every day.

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers have represented highway workers who sustained terrible injuries in Hampton Roads work zone accidents.

The death of a highway worker in Virginia Beach was not the only tragedy on the roads of Tidewater over the weekend.

One woman died and three people were injured after a driver went the wrong way onto Interstate 264 East at the Downtown Tunnel early Sunday morning, state police say.

Virginia State Police received a call shortly after 2 a.m. from Downtown Tunnel officials about a Chevy Equinox that was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the tunnel between Portsmouth and Norfolk.

Investigators said the Equinox hit a Toyota Tacoma west of Victory Boulevard in Portsmouth. A passenger in the Equinox – later identified as Cecilia R. Wells – died at the accident scene. Our deepest condolences go to the family of Ms. Wells.

The 26-year-old driver of the Equinox was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.  She was still in the intensive care unit on Monday. Police charged the Equinox driver with driving under the influence.

Channel 13 reported the driver of the Toyota Tacoma, Tyler H. West, and his passenger Amber J. Britt, were also taken to Sentara Norfolk General with injuries. The two occupants of the Toyota are from Virginia Beach. Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

It’s always tragic when the apparent actions of an impaired driver lead to the loss of a life. Last year, 153 people died in Virginia accidents linked to drunk drivers. A further 4,430 people suffered injuries due to a drunk driver.

At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we represent people who were injured due to the actions of drunk drivers in Virginia and the families of those who lost their lives due to the actions of a drunk driver.

Although the number of people hurt and killed in DUI accidents in Virginia continues to decline in the long term, the number of fatalities caused by drunk drivers is still unacceptably high. If you have been hurt by a DUI driver or lost a loved one, please contact our Virginia injury lawyers today at (757) 455-0077.

John Baker