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Man killed in Henrico crash was running from police

Posted at 5:27 AM, Aug 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-22 09:27:33-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Henrico Police have identified the person killed early Tuesday morning on Mechanicsville Turnpike has Linwood Michael Lewis, 39, of Henrico. Lewis was struck by a vehicle while running from police, investigators said.

"A Henrico Police officer stopped a vehicle in the 3000 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike for a traffic violation," a Henrico Police spokesperson said. "The driver, an adult male, fled the traffic stop on foot and was struck by a truck traveling eastbound on Mechanicsville Turnpike. The male who was struck was pronounced deceased at the scene."

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash remains ongoing.

The crash and investigation forced police to close traffic lanes along Mechanicsville Turnpike and Watts Lane for several hours.

At a home near that road, long-time resident, Willie Nelson Jr., woke up to the aftermath of that crash.

"Something was going on. I just saw a great amount of cars," said Nelson.

He said this isn't the first time a pedestrian has been hit in the area.

"My initial thought was, 'Wow here we go again,' Nelson said

He said a man he knew was previously killed on Mechanicsville Turnpike just down the road from Tuesday morning's fatality.

"He was getting off of work. He rides a bicycle and he got hit and killed," Nelson said.

Nelson blamed previous deaths on a dangerous and busy street.

"The amount of traffic coming down Mechanicsville Turnpike, the speed -- it’s a tragedy waiting to happen really," he said.

He said a lack of sidewalks also contributed to the problem.

"A lot of times I’m coming along and people are actually walking in the street because they don’t have any sidewalks to walk on."

Nelson said he believed building better sidewalks was the first step to preventing future deaths.

"A lot of times, you find something bad has to happen before things change," Nelson said.

Taumara Hill works at the Shell station off of Mechanicsville Turnpike, and said she has also seen some accidents in the area.

She said she would like to see more traffic lights built to make the road less dangerous.

This is a developing story. Witnesses can send news tips and photos here.

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