A 28-year-old Henrico County firefighter was killed late Friday night when a dark-colored SUV struck his motorcycle on a Richmond interstate ramp and sped off, leaving investigators searching for a vehicle with a missing mirror and possible collision damage. Ashtain Noel Davis, of Petersburg, was thrown from his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and died at the scene despite wearing a helmet.
According to WTVR, Virginia State Police say Davis was riding on the ramp from Interstate 64 westbound to Interstate 95 southbound in Richmond when the SUV struck his motorcycle sometime between 11:20 and 11:27 p.m. that Friday. Investigators believe the same SUV may also have struck a Toyota Camry before fleeing. A Virginia State Police release cited by Augusta Free Press specified that Davis was riding a 2025 Harley-Davidson FLTRX Road Glide when he was struck.
Description of the Suspect Vehicle
Troopers believe the vehicle they're looking for is a dark blue or black 2014-2019 Jeep Cherokee or Compass, according to the same WTVR report, which may have minor front-end and rear-end damage and is missing a mirror. Anyone with information is asked to contact Virginia State Police Division 1 dispatch at 804-750-8758, dial #77 from a cellphone, or email [email protected]. The crash remains under investigation.
A Recent Fire Academy Graduate
Davis had only recently begun his career with the Henrico County Division of Fire. He graduated from Recruit Academy 86 in July 2026. Before joining the department in 2025, he had served in the military and worked in armed security, the same post notes, describing a path that took him from military service into municipal emergency response.
Davis was part of a department that operates 23 firehouses and employs 677 staff members, with an approved $102.5 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26, per Henrico County. The agency is led by Chief Douglas W. Clevert Jr., who took command in June.
A Dangerous Interchange, and a Statewide Pattern
The ramp connecting I-64 westbound to I-95 southbound sits within a stretch of interchange corridors in the Richmond metro area that regional traffic analyses have flagged as high-risk crash hotspots, according to The Johnson Injury Firm, which points to merging speed differentials as a key hazard for drivers and riders alike.
Davis's death adds to a grim statewide trend for motorcyclists. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles statistics reported by Law Tigers show motorcycle fatalities rose 12.6 percent in 2023 to 125 deaths statewide, even though motorcycle collisions made up just 1.7 percent of all traffic crashes.
Potential Charges If Driver Is Found
Penalties for fleeing a fatal crash are steep. Under Section 46.2-894 of the Code of Virginia, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death is a Class 5 felony, punishable by one to 10 years in prison and fines up to $2,500, according to The Law Offices of Joseph T Brown PLC.
If anyone else was riding in the SUV, they could face separate exposure. Virginia Code Section 46.2-895 requires passengers in a vehicle involved in a fatal or injury crash to report the incident to law enforcement within 24 hours or face Class 6 felony charges punishable by up to five years in prison, per Portner & Shure. For now, the SUV and its driver remain unidentified, and state police are continuing to ask the public for tips as the investigation moves forward.
