Young Man Crossing Street in Virginia Beach Hit and Killed | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A young 23 year old man was crossing Market Street in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) after leaving the Guadalajara Mexican restaurant with a friend. An SUV came out of nowhere and hit the young man and his female friend.

Due to the serious injuries, the young man died at the hospital. His friend suffered serious injuries including broken bones in her legs and will need surgery, according to The Virginian-Pilot.

The driver of the SUV was charged with drunken driving and is currently in jail being held without bond.  She had a prior DUI conviction, per other published news reports.

I get so frustrated when I hear about these types of accidents – innocent people getting killed due to the irresponsibility and carelessness of others. How many times does it have to be said? Don’t drink and drive.

Unfortunately, this simple philosophy is ignored by far too many drivers. In 2007, over 15,000 people were killed by a drunk driver, according to alcoholalert.com. Even more disturbing is the fact that young people (25 to 34) are the group with the highest percentage of all drunken driving deaths – 26 percent.

As a father, these statistics are terrifying. I cannot overemphasize the importance of safe driving practices and if any parents read this, please do the same.

I want to send my deepest sympathies to the young man’s friends and family. This is a terrible loss made even more tragic due to the holiday season.