VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Witness testimony started Monday in the case of the Commonwealth v. Nathan Poole.
Poole, 26, is suspected of hitting two women with his pickup truck and killing one of them at Virginia Beach Town Center on August 22, 2022. Poole was 24 years old at the time of the crash.
On the first day of his trial, a jury consisting of 12 members plus alternates was seated.
Attorneys on both sides also delivered opening statements. Not long after, prosecutors began calling their witnesses. One of them was the surviving victim in the crash who suffered serious injuries.
The defendant, Poole, is accused of driving under the influence. His charges include DUI maiming and DUI manslaughter.
Poole crashed into Rosa Blanco, 76, and another woman in her 70s, as they used a crosswalk near Constitution Drive at Town Center, Virginia Beach police said.
A nearby store employee took the stand on Monday and became emotional at times recalling what she heard and saw. She said she heard what sounded like a fender bender. She then testified to seeing a woman tossed into the air.
The same nearby store employee said in court she called 911 to report what happened and then realized there were two pedestrian victims at the scene when she walked closer. She also said she saw the vehicle pull off onto a curb.
Jurors watched traffic surveillance video of the crash in court. It showed a pickup truck running into two people using the crosswalk on Constitution Drive, as the vehicle turned left onto on the street.
Jurors also learned the surviving victim is Blanco's cousin. She said in court she recalls going to Tupelo Honey for lunch with Blanco to celebrate her birthday.
The cousin who testified and walks with a cane now doesn't remember the crash.
She only remembers waking up in the hospital with a variety of injuries like broken ribs and severe damage to her foot, the cousin testified. She also said she had to re-learn how to walk and felt pain daily in the aftermath of the crash.
In court, the cousin's son also detailed the constant care he provided his mother in the months following the crash as she worked to physically heal.
First responders and doctors also took the stand to recount their respective accounts.
Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the health director for Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, testified about being on the road when she suddenly saw a group of people gathering in what would've been her path of travel. She described springing into action and rendering aid alongside first responders, including performing CPR on Blanco.
Blanco died from her injuries. She's remembered as a former math teacher in the area and an active member of the local Filipino community.
On the first day of the trial, jurors also watched police body-worn camera footage. It showed Poole standing on the sidelines of the scene. He could be heard saying phrases like "The light just turned green," "It was an accident" and "I looked down at my GPS for half a second."
Documents 13News Now obtained from court almost two years ago say officers arrested Poole for DUI after smelling marijuana from his pickup truck.
After Poole stayed and spoke with police, he failed some field sobriety tests and when officers took him to test his blood, he allegedly told them he'd smoked marijuana, according to court paperwork.
During cross-examination, however, one police sergeant who took the stand Monday said he didn't notice a smell of marijuana standing next to Poole at the scene.
Prosecutors are expected to call more witnesses on Tuesday, starting at 9 a.m. The trial is expected to last multiple days.