Shore Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) is the situs of numerous deadly accidents over the years even after some changes to the shoulders and sidewalks were instituted. Unfortunately, this Virginia Beach highway’s dangerous reputation holds true to this day. On September 18, 2014, a 19-year-old pedestrian named Benjamin Taylor Epps was hit and killed in the 2600 block of Shore Drive, according to the Virginian Pilot.
Mr. Epps was reportedly walking east beside the median. They were hit by a Kia that was also traveling east.
Mr. Epps died at the scene due to the severity of his injuries. This tragic accident occurred near First Landing State Park, according to the Virginian Pilot. Pedestrians in Virginia have various superior rights to car drivers when walking in a proper place, in a crosswalk, or any proper pedestrian location.
Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Epps’ family and friends. Losing a loved one is never easy, but the pain is made that much worse when the loss is sudden and unexpected.
The exact details of the incident remain unclear. Was the driver of the Kia distracted? Did they have a mechanical issue? We will have to wait and see what the police investigation reveals. Our team of Virginia Beach wrongful death lawyers have handled cases where accidents occurred on, or around, Shore Drive. Unfortunately, we routinely receive calls from people who were involved in auto accidents that occurred on that road, and have represented persons on bikes as well as pedestrians who suffered personal injuries.
As mentioned above, Shore Drive is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road due to significant traffic and speeds that are permitted along the busy highway. We implore all drivers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders to exercise extreme caution and vigilance while traveling down this road, especially when passing pedestrians or bicyclists.