A car fleeing Newport News police was involved in accidents near and on the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. According to the Virginian-Pilot, officers were conducting a traffic checkpoint during rush hour when one driver attempted to go around the inspection point and struck another vehicle. A chase ensued on the bridge and through the tube, ending only when the fleeing car rear-ended and flipped a second vehicle.
Arrested after trying to run away on foot, the at-fault driver has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of counterfeit U.S. currency, evading and eluding police and reckless driving. Worse for many local commuters, the driver who led the chase created an hour-long traffic jam on and around I-664.
When we’re sitting in evening traffic heading home, most of us are more concerned with what’s for dinner than getting out of the way of a fleeing driving and pursuin police. Thankfully, the two drivers of the cars hit by the suspect were not seriously hurt, but there is some debate about whether the chase should have even occurred. Police allegedly risked the safety of the people sitting in traffic. While, ultimately, the authorities were simply trying to do their jobs, one has to wonder if this was the best method for apprehending a suspect.
As a Virginia ersonal injury attorney, I’ve seen just how quickly traffic conditions can change from dull to terrifying. It just goes to show you that anything can happen on the road, no matter how safe you’re being.
CD
About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, which has offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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