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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia Beach County, Va., Sept. 26, 2026 — One man was killed, and another was injured early on Saturday, September 26, when a vehicle struck them on 21st Street in Virginia Beach.
Officers and medics were called to the 200 block of 21st Street around 1:30 a.m. One man was pronounced dead at the scene. The second man was taken to a hospital with injuries.
The police said the driver did not stop after the crash. Investigators said the vehicle kept going across Atlantic Avenue before hitting a concrete barrier. The driver and a passenger in the vehicle were also taken to a hospital for treatment.
Detectives believe alcohol and speed are suspected factors. The driver, identified by authorities as 35-year-old Taiese Gaono of Jacksonville, was arrested and charged with DUI, DUI manslaughter, and DUI maiming. The case remains under investigation.
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.
What Actually Cuts Pedestrian Deaths: Vehicle Design and Street Layout
Vehicle height matters as much as vehicle speed in a pedestrian crash. Taller front ends on trucks and SUVs tend to strike a pedestrian higher on the body, closer to the torso or head, instead of the legs. That changes the kind of injuries a person suffers and lowers the odds of survival compared to being hit by a lower hood on a sedan.
Street design plays a similar role. Curb extensions, raised crosswalks, roundabouts, and better lighting all slow traffic or make pedestrians more visible before a driver reaches them. Signal timing that gives people a head start crossing, sometimes called a leading pedestrian interval, has cut crashes at intersections in several cities that have adopted it. Median barriers and refuge islands give people a place to stop partway across a wide road instead of crossing in one movement.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths accounted for 18 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2023. Engineers and safety researchers increasingly treat that figure as a design problem as much as a behavior problem, pointing to street layout and vehicle shape alongside driver choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What usually causes pedestrian accidents?
Common factors include speeding, impaired driving, poor visibility at night, distracted driving, and drivers or pedestrians failing to yield at crossings.
Does vehicle speed change a pedestrian's chance of survival?
Yes. Survival rates drop sharply as impact speed rises. A pedestrian struck at lower speeds has a much better chance of survival than one struck at higher speeds.
Are pedestrian crashes more likely at night?
A large share of pedestrian deaths happen after dark, when visibility is lower, and drivers have less time to react.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Virginia Beach, VA
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 right away so police and medics can respond. Even if injuries seem minor at first, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider, since some injuries from being struck by a vehicle don't show symptoms immediately.
If you're a witness, staying at the scene to speak with responding officers can help investigators piece together what happened. Photos of the scene, if it's safe to take them, and the names of anyone else who saw the crash can also help. Following up with the police department for a copy of the official report is a reasonable next step for anyone involved.
