NORFOLK, Va. — Another Hampton Roads child is recovering in the hospital following a crash on Laskin Road. It's part of a rising and disturbing trend of pedestrian accidents that involves children.
According to Virginia's Traffic Records Electronic Data System, 2023 is set to overtake 2022 in number of crashes and fatalities. In 2022, the Hampton Roads community saw a total of 54 crashes for the entire year and none of them were fatal. In 2023, the number has already exceeded 57, and two children have died.
A two-year old toddler died in March after someone hit and killed the child at the corner of First Colonial Road and Southall Drive in Virginia Beach. Officers later arrested 77-year-old Raul Santiago in the investigation.
It happened again in October after someone hit and killed eight-year old Forrest Hooper on South Battlefield Boulevard. Police arrested 38-year-old Richard Humbert in connection to the hit-and-run.
"The road can be a dangerous place and we need to be careful at this point, not even when kids are crossing the roads but even when they are in a close vicinity to the road," said Ryan Adcock, Triple A.
The growing trend also includes children who have been injured in pedestrian crashes.
In Norfolk, a 7-year old girl named "Yahyah" Shead is facing a year long recovery in the hospital. She was hit by a car in Norfolk on Oct. 24 on Church Street. Her mother said Yahyah must re-learn how to eat, walk, and talk.
"The kids are the ones that are paying for it, like my daughter was a regular, healthy 7-year-old. I just feel like everyone should be aware on the road, stop speeding and watch out for other drivers," said Laquanda Shead.
According to the online data, Virginia Beach has seen the most pedestrian-related crashes in 2023. Portsmouth has the least amount of crashes with one non-deadly case.