4 Juveniles Among VA's Labor Day Weekend Traffic Deaths: State Police

VIRGINIA — Four juveniles were among the six traffic deaths reported in Virginia over the long Labor Day holiday weekend, according to the Virginia State Police.

During the Labor Day holiday statistical counting period from last Friday through Monday, the six fatal traffic crashes occurred in the counties of Hanover, Henry, Pittsylvania, Shenandoah and Sussex, along with the city of Norfolk. Two pedestrians were killed by vehicles: a 7-year-old girl and an 85-year-old man.

Three other children who died in crashes over the holiday weekend were a 17-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old boy, the Virginia State Police said Thursday.

The six traffic deaths during the 2022 Labor Day weekend was down from the 10 traffic deaths during the same weekend in 2021.

“While the reduction in traffic deaths is encouraging, six families still lost loved ones this past weekend,” Colonel Gary Settle, Virginia State Police superintendent, said in a statement Thursday. “Four of those tragically lost were young people with a full life ahead of them, and two of those children were not wearing a seatbelt or safely secured in a child safety restraint.”

State police said they investigated a total of 772 traffic crashes over the holiday weekend.

The Virginia State Police also participated in two annual traffic-safety enforcement programs over the Labor Day weekend: Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, an anti-DUI enforcement and education program sponsored by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

Operation CARE is a nationwide, state-sponsored traffic safety program that aims to reduce traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by impaired driving, speeding and failing to use occupant restraints. Virginia State Police’s participation in the program began Friday, Sept. 2 at 12:01 a.m., and ended at midnight Monday, Sept. 5.

During the long holiday weekend, the Virginia State Police said troopers:

• Stopped 4,094 speeders
• Stopped 1,807 reckless drivers
• Arrested 87 drivers for DUI/DUID
• Cited 435 seat belt violations
• Assisted 818 disabled/stranded motorists

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