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Loudoun County, Virginia police are looking for a driver that fled the scene of a fatal crash in Virginia on Oct. 18. 

At six am that morning, police officers responded to an apparent one-vehicle accident at Pebble Run Place and Overland Drive in Loudoun County. The driver of a Jeep Wrangler lost control for unknown reasons, according to the police. The Jeep rolled several times, and the driver died at the scene.

However, the investigation and speaking to witnesses revealed that another vehicle was seen that may have been involved in the accident. The police stated that it may have been a Honda or Toyota. The driver fled the scene of the accident.

Our View

Hit and run crashes involving death or serious injury are on the rise in America. It is for that reason that legislators in several states are looking at making laws tougher on this crime.

Crash data from the NHTSA shows that the number of fatal hit and run wrecks has increased from 1274 in 2009 to 1449 in 2011. 

If you are in a car accident in Virginia, you are required to stop and exchange information with the other driver or drivers. If there is injury involved, you are required to stay at the scene and render aid, which can include taking the person to the hospital or physician. Leaving the scene of a fatal accident is a very serious crime. If you are convicted of this crime, you can face jail time and fines, as well as civil liability for injuries and death, if you caused the accident. Below are some of the possible punishments:

  • Class 5 felony: The driver who flees the scene can receive up to 10 years in prison if there was an injury, death, or more than $1000 of property damage. A passenger who did not report the accident can get up to five years in prison with a class 6 felony.
  • Class 1 misdemeanor: The driver can get up to one year in jail if there was less than $1000 in property damage.

Another serious consequence of causing a fatal accident and leaving the scene is that you can be found to have caused the death of another person in a wrongful death lawsuit. The responsible driver can be forced to pay millions of dollars in damages for pain and suffering, loss of wages, loss of consortium and more. Insurance policies will only cover so much; the rest is the responsibility of the driver who caused the accident and left the scene.

 

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