NORFOLK, Va. — A man has pleaded no contest in connection to a 2022 Norfolk auto-pedestrian crash that killed a 7-year-old girl.
44-year-old Larry Laquan Thompson entered the plea for driving while his license was revoked on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said that on the afternoon of September 3, 2022, Jailynn Santiful was outside her house in the 1100 block of Pickett Road, along with her father and younger sibling. Jailynn's father picked up and carried her younger sibling back into their house while Jailynn crossed the street alone.
Officials said Jailynn went to cross the street again, looking both ways and hesitating for a moment before stepping into the street. That's when Thompson's Chevrolet Tahoe entered the intersection and struck the child. Prosecutors said Thompson and his wife immediately got out to attend aid, but Jailynn later died as a result of the accident.
Authorities later charged Thompson with operating a vehicle while his driving privileges were revoked and failing to maintain a vehicle inspection.
In July of 2023, prosecutors said Thompson pleaded no contest to the charges in Norfolk General District Court and was sentenced to serve 12 months in jail, the maximum jail sentence available for those offenses.
Thompson appealed his conviction for operating a vehicle with driving privileges to Norfolk Circuit Court before again pleading no contest on Tuesday.
Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, where he faces a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.
