A pedestrian struck in a hit-and-run near the intersection of Francis Street and Victory Boulevard in Portsmouth has died, and police are investigating. Officers responded to the scene late Wednesday night and found a critically injured adult man, who was rushed to a local hospital where he later died.
Portsmouth Police were investigating the fatal crash as of Thursday morning, according to WAVY.com, which first reported the incident. Officers located the man at the Francis Street and Victory Boulevard intersection and had him transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigation Continues After Fatal Hit-and-Run
Police have said the investigation is active but have not released additional information about the driver, the vehicle involved, or the exact circumstances of the crash. The outlet's report notes that the incident occurred late Wednesday night, though further details have not yet been made public.
Police have not released additional information about the driver or vehicle. WAVY has asked readers to check back for updates as the investigation develops.
Part of a Troubling Pattern on Hampton Roads Streets
The Francis Street crash adds to a string of pedestrian deaths that have rattled the Portsmouth area in recent years. In December 2020, police searched for a vehicle after a hit-and-run seriously injured a pedestrian in the 3200 block of Victory Boulevard, and in October 2020 one person was killed and two others injured in a separate Portsmouth hit-and-run involving a pedestrian. Earlier this year, a pedestrian also died following a two-vehicle crash at the High Street and Virginia Avenue intersection in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth’s 2020 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (the city’s plan) focuses on bicycle and pedestrian issues in the city.
The pattern reflects a broader regional problem. Eight people were killed in pedestrian crashes across Hampton Roads during just the first three months of 2025, according to data cited by WAVY.
No further details have been released about this latest case, and Portsmouth Police have not said whether witnesses or surveillance footage exist. The investigation remains open.
Virginia law requires a driver involved in a crash that kills or injures someone to stop, provide identifying information to police or the other party, and render reasonable assistance. A person convicted of violating that requirement faces a Class 5 felony when the crash results in injury or death. The statute sets out the legal duty and potential penalty; whether it applies to this case will depend on the investigation and any prosecution. The Virginia Code’s accident provisions spell out those requirements.
