A Suffolk, Virginia (VA), police pursuit on July 9, 2011, ended tragically with a fatal car accident, the Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday. The driver, Cornell A. Richardson, was pulled over for a traffic violation. When the police officer got out of his vehicle, Richardson sped off in his Toyota. The officer called in a description of the car to dispatchers.
Later, officers discovered debris from the Toyota after it struck a guardrail and then a tree. Richardson and his two passengers were trapped inside the vehcile until rescue workers could save them.
Tragically, one of the car’s passengers, 36-year-old Keiska Thornhill of Franklin, was killed in the accident. Another female passenger was also injured and was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Richardson was flown to Norfolk but is in fair condition. He was wanted on a felony warrant in Southampton County.
This accident is truly a tragedy for all involved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
Sadly, many accidents occur when drivers try to avoid legal repercussions. When drivers know they’ve got a warrant out for their arrest, they often make dangerous decisions to avoid the police. Negligent driving frequently results in car accidents like this one.
Because the passenger was killed through no fault of her own, her family may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. As Virginia personal injury lawyers, we’ve got experience with wrongful death cases like this.
It’s tragic to think that this entire accident could have been avoided had the driver been willing to accept repercussions. No matter what happens, Richardson has a long road of consequences ahead of him.
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