RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A woman was killed, a man is severely hurt and two police officers were injured after a crash Thursday night near a busy intersection of Richmond Highway.
Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith said the passenger of the vehicle killed in the crash was a 19-year-old woman and the driver was an 18-year-old man who Chief Smith said is fighting for his life.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin must be notified before the identification of the deceased victim is released.
The Richmond Police Department said the two officers were on their way to a burglary call at 10:42 p.m. when a police cruiser and a Buick sedan collided at Bells and Castlewood roads in Richmond’s Southside.
According to police, the cars collided at the intersection. The officers had the authorization to use blue lights and sirens because they were responding to a Code 1 burglary call, but it is unknown if the lights and sirens were on at the time of the accident.
The officers involved in the incident are Officer Richard Johnson and Officer DaQuan Walker. Both have serious head injuries. Chief Smith said one of them has a traumatic brain injury from the incident and both are in stable condition.
Police said it is not clear at this time which vehicle struck the other and the crash is under investigation by the RPD Special Operations Division Crash Team. They are looking at body camera footage and are asking witnesses or those who may have video to contact the department. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact Detective W. Kress by calling 804-646-0280.
The crash comes eight days after two Henrico police officers and a civilian were critically injured in a crash. Officer Trey Sutton, 24, died from his injuries.
A memorial service was held for the fallen officer at the Victory Tabernacle Church in Midlothian on Wednesday.
This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
