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NORFOLK, Norfolk County, Va., Sept. 24, 2026 — One person has died and two others were critically hurt after a two vehicle collision Thursday morning, September 24, on North Military Highway in Norfolk. Norfolk police said a Hyundai Elantra pulled out of a parking lot into the path of a northbound Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Officers responded to the 2700 block of North Military Highway just after 9 a.m. for the report of the crash. Investigators determined the Jeep was heading north on Military Highway when the Hyundai exited a nearby parking lot and into its path.
Both drivers and a passenger who was riding in the Hyundai were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. One of the three has since died.
North Military Highway between Robin Hood Road and Azalea Garden Road was shut down in both directions for several hours while crews investigated and cleared the scene. The road has since reopened.
The collision remains under investigation. We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased, and wish those injured a speedy recovery.
Where Angle Crashes Like This Tend to Cluster
Crashes where one vehicle pulls from a driveway, parking lot, or side street into a moving lane of traffic tend to happen on wide, high-speed arterial roads rather than neighborhood streets. Roads like North Military Highway carry multiple lanes of through traffic at higher speeds, and they're lined with retail lots and side entrances that don't always have a signal or protected turn lane. That combination gives drivers exiting a lot only a narrow window to judge oncoming speed and distance.
Unsignalized entrances are a particular problem because there's no dedicated stop for through traffic and no arrow telling a driver when it's safe to go. A driver pulling out has to estimate the gap on their own, often with parked cars, signs, or landscaping blocking the view down the road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities decreased 4.3 percent from 2022 to 2023, but crashes at uncontrolled access points and intersections remain a steady share of serious injury crashes nationwide. Multi-lane arterials with frequent commercial driveways, like the stretch involved in this crash, are the setting where these pull-out collisions repeat most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does impairment factor into fatal crashes like this one?
Alcohol and drug impairment are common contributors in fatal crashes nationally, but whether impairment played a role here has not been confirmed. Investigators typically test involved drivers as a standard part of a fatal crash review.
Where do fatal crashes happen most often?
They concentrate on higher-speed roads with mixed traffic, including arterials with driveways and side-street access, as well as rural two-lane highways without a median separating opposing traffic.
What makes a crash more likely to be fatal?
Speed differential, the angle of impact, and whether occupants were restrained all affect outcomes. A vehicle entering a travel lane from a stop, as described in this crash, can create a severe side-impact collision even at moderate speeds.
How much does speed affect survivability?
Higher speeds reduce the time a driver has to react and increase the force transferred in a collision. Even modest increases in speed can turn a survivable crash into a fatal one.
What to Do After a Pull-Out Crash in Norfolk, VA
If you're involved in a crash where another vehicle enters your lane from a driveway or parking lot, stay at the scene and call 911 right away. Move to a safe spot if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so.
Get checked by a medical professional even if you feel fine at first. Injuries from a side-impact or T-bone style collision can take hours to show symptoms.
Cooperate with the responding officers and get a copy of the police report once it's filed. If you saw the crash happen or were nearby, sharing what you observed can help investigators piece together how the vehicles approached each other.
