Several drivers who witnessed a hit-and-run accident on I-64 in Virginia Beach on Thursday afternoon chased a minivan fleeing the scene into Norfolk. The concerned drivers then made a citizen’s arrest of the suspect when he pulled his minivan off the interstate and into a parking lot on Military Highway.
The minivan driver and his passenger were apprehended by a Virginia state trooper a few minutes later, according to the Virginian-Pilot.
I commend the brave drivers who made sure that police were able to catch up to a person who potentially caused serious damage or injury while driving. The newspaper describes the accident as "minor," but that assessment could only be made accurately after the fact.
I’m writing about this incident is because it highlights the importance of tracking down hit-and-run drivers. (I would not recommend making citizen’s arrests, though.)
When an at-fault driver cannot be found, anyone injured by the accident lacks the means for recouping costs and awards for pain and suffering. Further, fleeing the scene of an accident is a Class 5 felony in Virginia. This means hit-and-run accidents hurt everyone involved.
About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, whose attorneys work out of 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.
EJL
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