VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A 72-year-old man was killed late Sunday night in a hit-and-run crash on Virginia Beach Boulevard, marking the fifth fatal pedestrian-involved collision in the city so far this year — and, according to police, the fifth where the pedestrian was found at fault.
The crash happened around 11:36 p.m. on Sept. 29, in the 2400 block of Virginia Beach Blvd. When officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) arrived, they found the man in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say two vehicles were involved. The first driver fled after hitting the pedestrian. The second driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Detectives with VBPD’s Traffic Safety Unit later identified and located the fleeing driver — Anthony Smith, 39, of Virginia Beach — who is now facing charges of:
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Driving Under the Influence (First Offense)
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Hit & Run Resulting in Death
Investigators determined that the pedestrian had entered the roadway without yielding the right of way, which contributed to the crash.
A Rising, Preventable Trend
So far in 2025, every fatal pedestrian crash investigated by Virginia Beach police has found the pedestrian to be at fault, usually for stepping into traffic illegally or unsafely.
“This is a troubling and preventable trend,” said Police Chief Paul Neudigate. “We are deeply concerned by the number of serious crashes caused when basic pedestrian traffic laws are ignored.”
Neudigate urged both drivers and pedestrians to take accountability for safety.
“Safety is a shared responsibility: drivers must stay alert and cautious, and pedestrians must follow the laws designed to protect them. Our goal is to prevent these tragedies, but it requires accountability and awareness from everyone using our roadways.”
Police have not yet released the name of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.
Ongoing Investigation
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to call the VBPD Traffic Safety Unit at (757) 385-4606.