NEWPORT NEWS, VA — A Safety Service Patrol worker was killed early Saturday on Interstate 64 in Newport News after being struck while crews were already dealing with an earlier crash, according to Virginia State Police. Investigators say the driver of the vehicle that hit the worker fled the scene, and troopers are now looking for an orange Dodge Charger believed to have been involved.
The collision happened around 3:12 a.m. on Sept. 19 near the Jefferson Avenue overpass on I-64 westbound. Police said the worker was at the scene of a crash when the deadly strike occurred. The agency has not released the worker’s name while family members are notified.
Troopers first responded to a separate call on the interstate
Virginia State Police said troopers were initially dispatched after a report of a person sleeping inside a vehicle on the interstate. Once they arrived in the area, they found an earlier crash already underway near the westbound lanes.
That response led to the state police vehicle being positioned at the scene while troopers worked. The fatal incident unfolded during that active response, turning what began as a welfare-type call into a deadly chain of crashes on one of Newport News’ busiest highways.
The timing is important because investigators say the Safety Service Patrol worker was struck while crews were still present and handling the earlier incident. State police have not said how long the first response had been underway before the fatal impact.
Kia Sorento hit a state police vehicle before the deadly strike
According to the preliminary investigation, a Kia Sorento crashed into the back of a Virginia State Police vehicle that had responded to the scene. The trooper who had been outside the patrol car was not hurt in that collision, police said.
That first impact set the stage for the tragedy that followed moments later. While crews remained at the roadside, the Safety Service Patrol worker was struck by a third vehicle, which investigators described as an orange Dodge Charger.
Police have charged the 44-year-old Newport News driver of the Kia Sorento with reckless driving and driving while suspended in connection with the initial crash. Virginia State Police have not said whether the Kia driver’s actions are believed to have contributed to the later hit-and-run strike.
Driver of orange Dodge Charger fled the scene after striking worker
Virginia State Police say the driver of the orange Dodge Charger left the area after hitting the worker. The worker suffered fatal injuries, and the vehicle was gone by the time investigators began sorting out the sequence of events.
The hit-and-run remains a major focus of the investigation. Police are asking anyone who saw the Charger or has information about the driver to contact Virginia State Police at (804) 750-8788.
Authorities have not released a description of the driver or said whether they know how many people were in the vehicle. They are still working to identify the car and determine the circumstances that led to the fatal strike.
Worker's identity withheld while family notification continues
State police have not released the worker’s name because the agency is still notifying the victim’s family. That step is standard in fatal crashes and is one reason investigators often withhold a victim’s identity at first.
The worker was part of the Safety Service Patrol, a road-assistance operation that responds to crashes and other incidents on major highways. In this case, the worker was already on scene helping with an earlier emergency when the fatal impact happened.
Police have not provided additional details about the worker’s duties that morning or how many other personnel were present when the collision occurred. The exact role of the worker at the scene has not been further described.
Investigation remains open as police seek witnesses and evidence
Virginia State Police say the investigation remains ongoing. Detectives and troopers are continuing to piece together the series of events that began with the initial call about a vehicle on the interstate and ended with the worker’s death.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the orange Dodge Charger is being urged to call state police. Investigators are likely examining vehicle damage, roadside evidence and any witness accounts that can help identify the driver who fled.
The case has now moved from an early-morning highway response into a fatal hit-and-run investigation. For Newport News drivers and first responders, the incident underscores the risks faced by crews working close to traffic on high-speed roads.
I-64 scene near Jefferson Avenue remains central to the case
The crash occurred near the Jefferson Avenue overpass on the westbound side of I-64, a corridor that carries heavy traffic through Newport News. That location is now the key point in the investigation as police reconstruct where each vehicle was positioned.
Investigators have not said whether roadway conditions, speed or visibility played a role in the sequence of crashes. They have, however, made clear that the fatal strike happened while emergency and service personnel were already on scene from the earlier incident.
As police continue to search for the orange Dodge Charger, the case remains focused on determining how the events unfolded and who was responsible for leaving the scene after the worker was hit.
