Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Moped Rider in Roanoke, VA | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A Roanoke, Virginia (VA), moped rider died from injuries he suffer in a hit-and-run crash on the night of November 2, 2016. The deadly wreck happened on Hershberger Road, just east of I-581.

 

 

Witness accounts helped police track down the person believed to be at-fault for striking the moped rider and fleeing the scene. The suspect is identified in news reports as an elderly woman.

Details on why the driver hit the moped rider have not emerged. Drivers responsible for crashes like this one in Roanoke often claim they never saw the moped before turning or changing lanes. This could make sense considering the nighttime setting of the fatal incident and the suspect’s advanced age. The explanation should not excuse taking a moped rider’s, however, since all drivers have high legal duties to watch for smaller vehicles at all times.

Also, leaving the scene of an accident without stopping to check on a victim or speak with investigators is a crime. Any person who can be proven to have caused a hit-and-run crash must be held accountable in both criminal court and through civil lawsuits or insurance claims. Police and prosecutors appear to be well on their way to doing the first of these things. Working with a dedicated Virginia wrongful death attorney will help the deceased moped driver’s family file civil and insurance claims.

EJL