An 86-year-old Danville man died after being struck by a car while crossing Richmond Boulevard on his way to a convenience store Tuesday evening. Joe Brandon was hit around 7:25 p.m. in the 1500 block of the roadway, and police say he was later flown to a hospital, where he died.
According to WSLS, Brandon was crossing Richmond Boulevard toward the convenience store near an apartment complex when he was hit by a 44-year-old woman driving a Nissan sedan. The outlet reports that the driver stopped immediately and has cooperated with investigators. WDBJ7 adds that Brandon had been walking from the apartment complex at 1575 Richmond Boulevard at the time of the crash.
Danville Police say Brandon was flown to a hospital for treatment, where he later died. The station's report notes that the crash remains under investigation, and no further details about the cause have been released.
What Investigators Are Still Trying to Determine
Danville Police have not said whether the driver will face any charges or what led up to the collision. The incident remains an open case, per the same account, with officers continuing to piece together how the crash unfolded in the 1500 block of Richmond Boulevard.
Danville Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to come forward. Tips can be submitted to police or to Crime Stoppers, which can be reached at 434-793-0000.
A Broader Pattern on Virginia Roads
While the specifics of Tuesday's crash are still under review, state-level data points to persistent risk factors for pedestrians across Virginia. A Virginia Department of Transportation safety action plan published in 2018 found that nearly three-quarters of pedestrian injury crashes between 2012 and 2016 occurred at locations without a crosswalk, according to The Northern Virginia Daily. The same plan found that 86 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes in the state happened where there was no crosswalk present.
VDOT official Mark Cole told the paper that proven pedestrian safety treatments, including crosswalks and refuge islands, can reduce crashes by 10 to 40 percent depending on the design. Statewide figures compiled by the Virginia State Crime Commission separately found that of 771 pedestrian fatalities recorded between 2017 and 2022, 54 percent involved people age 51 or older and 76 percent occurred in urban areas, according to a report from the Virginia State Crime Commission. Those figures describe statewide conditions over past years and are not a measure of current crash trends in Danville specifically.
Danville Police have not released additional information on how Tuesday's crash compares to other incidents in the city. The investigation into Brandon's death continues, and officials have asked that anyone with relevant information reach out to help close out the case.
