Ten killed in crashes across Virginia over Labor Day weekend

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Ten people were killed in crashes in Virginia over Labor Day weekend this year, including two pedestrians.

According to Virginia State Police, there were eight deadly crashes investigated by law enforcement over the Labor Day holiday — which, for state police data’s sake, is considered to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 and end at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2.

The crashes took place in Caroline County, Henrico County, Bedford County, Floyd County, Henry County, Montgomery County, Northampton County and the city of Lynchburg.

As a result of these crashes, ten people died. The Northhampton and Henry crashes resulted in two deaths each, with the remaining six killing one person each. The Caroline and Lynchburg crashes each involved a pedestrian.

This is a small decrease in deaths over 2023, according to state police. Last year, 14 people were killed in crashes over Labor Day weekend.

“We continue to be on an unsustainable pace for traffic fatalities,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, in a Sept. 3 press release. “As the year winds down, we cannot stress enough the need for people to slow down, to buckle up, to place their complete focus on driving and to drive sober.”

In addition to working these deadly crashes, state troopers were out in force over the holiday weekend. According to the release, they cited over 3,000 drivers for speeding and nearly 1,400 for reckless driving.

Seventy-seven drivers were charged with driving under the influence and 261 drivers were cited for violating the hands-free law. According to state police, its troopers cited 463 seat belt violations and over 100 child restraint violations.

In total, state troopers worked nearly 800 crashes this Labor Day weekend.

8News has reached out to Virginia State Police for information on the Caroline and Henrico fatal crashes. A spokesperson is working to provide that information. Updates will be provided when possible.

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