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RICHMOND, Richmond County, Va., Sept. 26, 2026 — A Henrico County firefighter died on Friday night, September 25, after a dark-colored SUV struck his motorcycle on a Richmond interstate ramp and left the scene. The driver has not been found.
Ashtain Noel Davis, 28, of Petersburg, was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the ramp from I-64 west to I-95 south between 11:20 p.m. and 11:27 p.m. when the SUV hit him. Troopers said Davis was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene. He was wearing a helmet at the time.
Investigators believe the same SUV may have also struck a Toyota Camry before driving off. Based on witness accounts and debris found at the scene, the vehicle is a dark blue or black 2014-2019 Jeep Cherokee or Compass, missing a side mirror and possibly carrying minor front or rear damage.
Davis joined the Henrico Division of Fire in 2025 after a career in armed security and military service. He completed Recruit Academy 86 in July 2026. Henrico Fire Chief Doug Clevert said the department is "grateful for Ashtain's service" and stands with his family.
The crash remains under investigation.
Our sympathies are with the family of the person who lost their life.
When Motorcycle Crashes Are Most Likely to Turn Deadly
Late night and early morning hours carry outsized risk for motorcyclists. Traffic thins out, but the drivers who remain are more likely to be fatigued, distracted, or impaired, and reduced visibility makes it harder for anyone to spot a motorcycle's narrow silhouette until it's close.
Weekend nights add another layer of risk. Friday and Saturday evenings see more recreational riding paired with more alcohol-impaired driving, a combination that shows up again and again in crash data. Ramps and interchanges compound the danger further, since merging traffic and tighter curves leave less time for either driver to react.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired in 2023. That figure reflects riders alone, but it points to how alcohol usually factors into fatal motorcycle crashes generally, regardless of the hour they happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do motorcycle crashes tend to cause more serious injuries than car crashes?
Riders have no frame, airbags, or seatbelts around them, so a collision that a car occupant might walk away from can throw a motorcyclist onto the pavement or into another vehicle.
How do left-turning vehicles cause so many motorcycle collisions?
Drivers turning left across traffic usually misjudge a motorcycle's speed or distance, or simply don't see it at all, and pull into its path.
What can drivers do to spot motorcycles more reliably?
Checking twice before turning or changing lanes, allowing extra following distance, and scanning mirrors and blind spots specifically for smaller vehicles all help.
What should a rider do immediately after a crash?
Move to safety if possible, call 911, and get a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor, since some trauma from a motorcycle crash isn't obvious right away.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Richmond, VA
If you witness or are involved in a motorcycle crash, call 911 right away and stay at the scene if it's safe to do so. Note any details you can, including the direction a fleeing vehicle traveled, its color, and any visible damage, since those details usually help investigators the most.
Seek medical care promptly, even for injuries that seem minor at first. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries from a motorcycle crash take hours or days to become apparent. Keep any documentation from your evaluation, and follow up with law enforcement if you recall additional details after the fact. Richmond police and Virginia State Police rely heavily on public tips to identify drivers who leave the scene.
