Richmond Valet Driver Charged With Death Of Pedestrian

The valet driver who hit and killed a woman in October of last year as finally been charged in connection with the accident. According to Channel 12 News, the driver was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month.

The accident happened on a brisk fall evening near the intersection of 5th and Broad Streets in Downtown Richmond, Virginia. The 23-year-old victim and her husband were walking on the sidewalk near the Hilton Garden Inn when the young driver hit the couple as they attempted to cross a street at a crosswalk. The young woman was taken to VCU Medical Center, where she died a short time later.

The 26-year-old valet driver could face up to 20 years in prison and a five-year license suspension if convicted of the crime.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 4,092 pedestrian lives were lost and 59,000 injuries occurred in 2009, with a majority of these fatal pedestrian accidents happening at intersections with crosswalks.

While the number of pedestrian fatalities may be on a slow but steady decline, the Richmond auto accident lawyers with Geoff McDonald and Associates ask that pedestrians and motorists be cautious of one another and become educated on pedestrian safety. If you have been injured by a motorist at no fault of your own, contact an experienced attorney today.