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NEWPORT NEWS, Newport News County, Va., Oct. 15, 2026 — Nine people, including four children, were hurt on Wednesday morning, October 14, in a two-vehicle crash at Mercury Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue. The crash shut down several nearby lanes while officers worked the scene.
All nine people involved were taken to hospitals for treatment, the Newport News Police Department said. Investigators believe the injuries are not life-threatening, though that assessment is preliminary.
The crash closed northbound Jefferson Avenue at Mercury Boulevard, along with the eastbound and westbound lanes of Mercury Boulevard, while crews cleared the scene and gathered evidence. It was not immediately clear how long the closures lasted.
Detectives have not released how the crash happened or who was driving either vehicle. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been made public.
We wish the injured a complete and speedy recovery.
Why Intersection Crashes Injure So Many Riders at Once
Crashes at busy intersections like this one often involve more people per collision than crashes on open roads, simply because intersections concentrate vehicles, turns, and crossing paths in one small area. A single failure to yield or a missed signal can turn into a crash involving several occupants in each vehicle rather than just a driver traveling alone.
How badly people are hurt in these crashes often comes down to seatbelt use and the safety equipment built into modern vehicles. Side airbags, reinforced door frames, and functioning seatbelts all reduce the chance that someone riding in the back seat, including a child, is thrown against the interior of the car or ejected during impact. Children in properly installed car seats or booster seats tend to fare better than those who are not restrained correctly for their size.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 17 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections in 2023. The same geometry that endangers people on foot, multiple lanes of turning and crossing traffic, also raises the odds that an occupant crash at an intersection will involve more than two or three people hurt at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after a car accident?
Move to a safe spot if the vehicle is drivable, check on everyone involved, and call 911. Exchange information with the other driver and, if possible, take photos of the vehicles and the intersection before traffic clears the scene.
Where do most traffic accidents happen?
Intersections account for a large share of crashes because they combine turning movements, crossing traffic, and signal timing in a small space, raising the chance of a misjudged gap or a missed light.
What are common injuries in car accidents?
Common injuries include whiplash and other neck or back strain, concussions, broken bones, and bruising from seatbelts or airbags. Children and smaller occupants can be hurt even in crashes that seem minor, so a medical check is worth doing regardless of how someone feels right after the crash.
What to Do After a Car Crash in Newport News, VA
If you're involved in a crash in Newport News, stay at the scene and call for help right away, even if injuries seem minor at first. Adrenaline can mask pain, especially in children, so it's worth having everyone checked by a medical professional the same day. Get the names and contact information of anyone else involved, including passengers and witnesses, and ask for a copy of the police report once it's filed. Keep records of any medical visits or treatment that follow, since some injuries from intersection crashes don't show symptoms until hours or days later.
