A member of the Virginia Safety Service Patrol was helping a driver in a broken down car along I-95 when Virginia State Police say another driver lost control and hit and killed the patrol worker.
The crash happened Saturday night in Fredericksburg near the 301 exit.
The driver of the broken down car was injured but survived.
“We have all been deeply impacted and are mourning this tragic loss of a teammate,” The Virginia Department of Transportation said in a statement. “In his honor, it is imperative to remind and emphasize the need for all motorists to drive with caution and care on our roadways.”
The deadly crash comes about two years after Virginia updated its Move Over law. The law now requires drivers to change lanes and give extra space when possible any time they’re passing emergency workers or disabled vehicles on the side of the road.
“Cars zipping by you at a high rate of speed, it’s very very dangerous,” said Ragina Ali with AAA. “And these laws are intended to keep those who basically have their business at the side of the road safe
She said they often do awareness campaigns to make sure drivers know to move over.
“Oftentimes we will do studies and surveys and despite the fact that every state in the country has some form of this law on the books,” Ali said. “Oftentimes drivers will say, ‘Oh I didn’t know I was supposed to slow down, Oh I didn’t know I was supposed to move over.’”
Virginia State Police say the driver who hit the two people stayed on scene.
It’s not yet clear what charges that driver will face, if any. Police say the criminal investigation is still ongoing.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/S9rYxyt
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