HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) – A tragic series of events on Interstate 95 in Henrico County claimed the life of a 17-year-old girl on Sunday night, according to Virginia State Police. The crash occurred around 8:45 p.m. on May 4 near the Brook Road exit and remains under active investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate that the chain-reaction crash began when a 2004 Toyota Camry rear-ended a 2012 Honda Pilot while both vehicles were traveling in the left lane of I-95 South. Following the collision, the Camry pulled over to the right shoulder, while the Honda Pilot came to a stop partially in the left lane.
Inside the Honda Pilot was a 17-year-old girl, who exited the vehicle—possibly to assess the damage or speak to the other driver—unaware that more danger was looming. In a tragic turn of events, a 2022 Honda Civic, also traveling in the left lane, approached the stopped vehicles and struck both the teenager and the rear of the Honda Pilot. The Civic then veered off the road and collided with a guardrail.
Emergency responders were quickly dispatched to the scene, but the young girl, whose identity has not yet been publicly released pending notification of extended family, was pronounced dead at the site of the crash. Her loss has sent shockwaves through the community, with friends, classmates, and family members grappling with the sudden and heartbreaking tragedy.
“She had her whole life ahead of her,” said one family friend. “She was kind, intelligent, and full of energy. This loss is unimaginable.”
Virginia State Police are continuing their investigation into the multi-vehicle crash, and it remains unclear whether any charges will be filed. Investigators are working to determine the exact sequence of events and whether speed, distracted driving, or other factors contributed to the deadly collision.
The drivers of the vehicles involved remained at the scene and have been cooperating with authorities, according to police.
Traffic in the area was severely impacted for several hours Sunday night as troopers conducted their on-site investigation and cleared the wreckage. The southbound lanes of I-95 near Brook Road were reopened later that evening.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging drivers to exercise extra caution on the highways, especially in the event of accidents that leave vehicles or individuals exposed in active lanes of traffic. Officials advise that if it is safe to do so, all vehicles involved in a crash should be moved to the shoulder or off the highway to avoid further risk.
Community members are mourning the loss of a vibrant young life cut short under such tragic circumstances. Counselors are expected to be available at the teenager’s school in the coming days to help students and staff process the grief.
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