A tragic motor vehicle accident in Virginia has claimed the life of a one-year-old boy after a vehicle driven by a 14-year-old girl lost control on the interstate.
The incident occurred a little after 2:00 a.m. Monday along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 in Hampton. Investigators reported that the silver sedan, operated by the unlicensed teenage mother, veered off the right side of the pavement and struck a guardrail. The vehicle then careened across the highway, eventually colliding with a median barrier on the left side of the road, according to People magazine.
According to the Virginia State Police (VSP), the toddler passed away Thursday as a result of the injuries he sustained during the early morning crash earlier in the week.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the toddler was not secured in a proper child restraint system. The child’s mother was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact.
The driver suffered significant injuries. First responders rushed her to an area hospital for treatment.
The teenage mother is now facing charges of driving under the influence (DUI), operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and child restraint violations.
State police have indicated that the investigation is still active and further charges could be pending as more details emerge.
The loss has left the family reeling just days before the child was set to celebrate his second birthday on April 4. In an interview with WTKR News 3, the child’s grandmother, April Logan, spoke of her pain over the child’s loss and revealed that her 17-year-old son is the child’s father.
Despite the devastating circumstances, the grandmother shared that she is struggling to process her emotions toward the driver, whom she identified as the baby’s mother.
While she feels anger over the negligence, she expressed a desire for grace and not hate, stating, “The Lord, my spirit, won’t let me. My spirit won’t let me.”
Others close to the family are using the tragedy to send a stern warning to other adolescents. The child’s godfather made a public plea for teenagers to value their youth and act with more caution.
He urged the younger generation to “be more responsible” and to stop rushing into adult behaviors that carry life-altering consequences.
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[Feature Photo: Shutterstock]