RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- Two different pedestrian fatalities in a week: one in Richmond, one in eastern Henrico.
They are part of what the Department of Motor Vehicles says is an alarming trend. The Department’s 2012 pedestrian fatality numbers are in and they don't look good.
DMV spokeswoman Sunni Brown tells CBS 6 there were 104 pedestrians killed along Virginia roadways in 2012, compared to 75 in 2011, about a 25 percent increase.
We have video from last Thursday where a driver of an SUV hit and killed 23-year-old Alfredo Goldston off Harvie road in eastern Henrico. Police say he was wearing all black and walking with the flow of traffic in a poorly lit area.
Police are still investigating but the DMV says it's time for a refresher course in common sense. “There are distracted drivers and there are distracted walkers,” said Brown. “You see people walking down the street, they’re on their iPhones, they’re on their smartphones. They have their iPods in their ears. It’s really hard to pay attention to what’s going on around you when you’re distracted by something else.”
Brown says the Department doesn’t have data on distracted walking, but says from anecdotal evidence, they believe it’s a growing problem.
Forty-five-year-old Larry Seward of Richmond was killed over the weekend by a hit and run driver off of Hull Street.
Police need help finding the suspect in that case. If you know anything call Crimestoppers at 804-780-1000.
