A fatal crash in Pittsylvania County, Virginia shut down a portion of Stony Mill Road on July 12. Eight motorcyclists were traveling northbound as a group on Stony Mill Road (Route 869).
A woman driving a Ford Taurus crossed the center-line and hit two of the Harley Davidson motorcyclists, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. J.C. Loftis. The motorcyclists, Ray Hamlett and David Williams, died at the accident scene.
The woman who hit the two men was charged with driving on a suspended license and failing to drive on the right side of the highway.
The victims’ family members and other riders were at the accident scene waiting for any information police could give, according to GoDanRiver.com. Every minute that passed as they waited must have been anxious and heart-wrenching for them, and I am sincerely sorry for their loss.
When a vehicle collides with a motorcycle, the motorcyclist is virtually unprotected from the impact of the crash. Motorcycles don’t have air bags or seat belts, and even the best helmet cannot prevent injury or death in a serious wreck.
Motorcycle fatalities decreased 19% in Virginia between 2012 and 2013, but 63 people still lost their lives in motorcycle accidents in 2013 and 63 Virginia families will never be the same.
A family who has lost a loved one in a tragic and unexpected accident caused by another driver may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. When a driver is charged criminally, that does not prevent the other party from pursuing a claim in civil court. To learn about the Virginia wrongful death claims process, take a moment to read this in-depth legal guide.
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