Henrico man killed in hit-and-run crash on East Laburnum Avenue
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A 54-year-old Henrico County man died Oct. 29 when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on East Laburnum Avenue near Richmond Raceway. Henrico Police later took a 29-year-old county man into custody on charges related to the crash.
The incident occurred at about 10:40 p.m. at the intersection of East Laburnum and Richmond-Henrico Turnpike. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Thaddeus Lee Smith, lying on the ground near a business in the 600 block of East Laburnum. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
A preliminary investigation shows Smith was walking northbound across East Laburnum within the crosswalk when he was struck by a dark colored SUV that fled the scene. Police identified a suspect vehicle and then located it and the possible driver at a home in the 1500 block of Carter Street.
The suspect, 29-year-old Jason Alexander Wallace, of Henrico, was charged with felony hit and run, and possession of a schedule I/II drug. Investigators believe alcohol and drugs are contributing factors in the crash.
In 2021, Henrico County witnessed 76 crashes involving pedestrians, resulting in 11 fatalities.
So far this year, there have been 64 crashes in Henrico involving pedestrians, resulting in eight fatalities. Last year, there were 76 such crashes and 11 related fatalities.
