6 Killed In Virginia Crashes Over Labor Day Weekend

Six people died in six crashes on Virginia roads over the Labor Day holiday weekend, according to Virginia State Police on Wednesday. That number is down from 10 people killed over the 2024 holiday weekend.

Despite the decline in fatalities from the previous Labor Day weekend, state police noted three of the fatal crash victims were not wearing seat belts. In a fourth crash, it was unclear if the victim was wearing a seatbelt. The remaining two fatalities involved motorcycles.

The fatal crashes happened in Alexandria, Chesapeake, Lynchburg, Norfolk, and Frederick County. Two of the crashes were in Chesapeake.

In Alexandria, a single-vehicle crash on the Capital Beltway killed a driver from Capitol Heights, Maryland. State police say the driver's vehicle went off the left side of the road, struck a guardrail and an exit sign, and became airborne before landing in a ditch. The driver was not wearing a seat belt.

As of July 1, a new Virginia law requires all occupants of a vehicle to wear a seat belt, regardless of age and position in the vehicle. The previous seat belt requirement only applied to those in the front seat and children under 18.

"Wearing a seat belt can save your life, and now, the law requires for all occupants," said Col. Matthew Hanley, superintendent of the Virginia State Police. "We want Virginians to have a safe Fall, and wearing a seat belt is one of the best ways to protect yourself while on the road."

Virginia State Police had extra staffing on patrol during the holiday weekend, especially on the heavier travel days of Aug. 29 and Sept. 1. In all, state troopers responded to 767 crashes.

During the Labor Day holiday weekend, state troopers cited 3,018 drivers for speeding, 1,370 drivers for reckless driving and 62 for driving under the influence. State troopers found 499 seat belt violations and 116 child restraint violations.

According to state police, funds from summons given by state troopers go to court fees and the state's literacy fund for public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.