Three Roadside Workers Killed in Virginia as Officials Urge Drivers to Slow Down and Move Over

Three roadside workers have lost their lives on Virginia highways since 2023, including one killed in September 2026, prompting state transportation and law enforcement officials to renew their call for drivers to slow down and move over when approaching stopped vehicles.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Virginia State Police (VSP) used Crash Responder Safety Week, held November 2–6, to remind motorists that a few seconds of caution could mean the difference between life and death for someone working along the highway.

The national campaign carried a simple message: “Slow down, move over. Lives are on the line!”

For the families of three Virginia Safety Service Patrol operators, that warning carries a painful meaning.

Three Lives Lost While Helping Others

On September 19, 2026, Safety Service Patrol operator Clayton Fitchett responded to a call on Interstate 64 in Newport News, where Virginia State Police were investigating a report of someone sleeping on an overpass.

While Fitchett was outside his vehicle, a passing car struck him and fled the scene. Fitchett died from his injuries.

During the same incident, a Virginia State Police vehicle was also struck, although the trooper escaped injury. The fatal crash remains under investigation.

Fitchett was the third Safety Service Patrol operator killed while working on Virginia highways in just over three years.

On September 6, 2025, Michael Freeland was assisting a disabled vehicle on Interstate 95 in Prince William County when a passing driver lost control, crossed multiple lanes, and struck both Freeland and the stranded motorist. Freeland died, and the other driver was injured.

Two years earlier, on October 8, 2023, Safety Service Patrol operator Craig Boone stopped along Interstate 64 in Hampton near the Big Bethel overpass to help a disabled motorist. He was struck and killed by a driver whose blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit.

That driver was later sentenced to five years in prison.

“This Crash Responder Safety Week, we remember the lives of Clayton Fitchett, Michael Freeland and Craig Boone,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich.

“Incident responders, both representing VDOT and beyond, work to keep the roadways safe and traffic moving, and it is beyond tragic when three people just doing their jobs on the road were unable to go home.”

Other Responders Have Narrowly Escaped Death

The fatalities are only part of the danger.

On May 2, 2026, a Virginia State Police trooper and a Safety Service Patrol operator were assisting a disabled vehicle along Interstate 64 in Newport News.

As they directed traffic around the scene, another vehicle struck the patrol operator, causing life-threatening injuries.

The trooper and a VDOT Incident Management Coordinator immediately provided assistance. The injured worker survived but suffered life-altering injuries.

Another serious crash occurred on September 25, just six days after Fitchett’s death.

A vehicle traveling east on Route 460 struck the rear of three Virginia State Police vehicles that had stopped following a traffic stop.

All three patrol vehicles were damaged. Fortunately, the troopers were not injured.

The 22-year-old driver of the striking vehicle suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital.

These crashes illustrate how quickly a routine roadside stop can become dangerous, even when trained personnel are present and warning lights are activated.

“Every crash scene is an active and often dangerous work zone,” said Virginia State Police Lieutenant Colonel Norman E. Gray Sr.

“Our troopers, local law enforcement officers, safety service patrol personnel, firefighters, EMS providers, and tow operators are focused on helping those involved, clearing the roadway, and restoring safe travel for everyone.”

Gray said drivers have a responsibility to stay alert and give responders the space they need to work safely.

Thousands of Roadside Calls Every Year

Virginia’s roadside response system includes police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, tow truck operators, highway maintenance workers, and transportation employees.

VDOT’s Safety Service Patrol, operated by contractor AECOM, assists stranded motorists, removes debris, manages incidents, and helps keep traffic moving along major highways.

The work is constant.

According to VDOT, its personnel responded to more than 18,500 crashes in 2025 across Virginia’s more than 59,000 miles of state-maintained roads.

Since 2021, VDOT crash responders have handled more than 127,000 crashes, while Safety Service Patrol operators have responded to more than 1 million incidents.

Those incidents range from major highway collisions to motorists who have run out of fuel or had flat tires.

Each call can place a worker within a few feet of passing traffic, often moving at highway speeds.

What Virginia’s Move Over Law Requires

Virginia law requires drivers to take precautions when approaching certain stopped vehicles displaying warning lights.

On highways with at least four lanes, including two traveling in the same direction, motorists must move into a lane away from the stopped vehicle when it is reasonable and safe.

If changing lanes is unsafe or impractical, drivers must proceed cautiously at a safe speed for the road and traffic conditions.

The law covers emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights and extends to other stopped vehicles using hazard flashers, caution signs, or warning flares.

Penalties depend on the vehicle type and the warning signals used. Violations involving certain emergency or responder vehicles can result in reckless driving charges.

In Virginia, reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

Violations involving ordinary stopped vehicles displaying hazard warnings are generally treated as traffic infractions. Separate safety rules apply in highway work zones.

Gray emphasized that the law is intended to protect people, not simply punish drivers.

“When you move over or slow down, you’re not just complying with the law; you may be saving a life,” he said.

What to Do if You Are Involved in a Crash

VDOT also wants motorists to understand what to do when they become stranded or are involved in a minor collision.

If a crash causes only property damage, no one is injured, and the vehicles can be driven safely, drivers should move them out of the travel lanes.

A nearby parking lot or another protected location is preferable to stopping along a busy highway.

Virginia’s “Move It” law requires motorists to move a vehicle from the roadway when it is safe and possible.

If a vehicle is disabled and cannot be moved, drivers should avoid standing near moving traffic. Anyone who must exit should move to a safe location away from the roadway and avoid crossing highway lanes or trying to stop passing vehicles.

Drivers approaching an emergency scene should avoid distractions, watch for workers on foot, and be prepared for changing traffic conditions.

The message applies whether the person on the shoulder is a state trooper, firefighter, tow truck driver, highway worker, or an ordinary motorist dealing with a breakdown.

For the families of Clayton Fitchett, Michael Freeland, and Craig Boone, the risks are no longer statistics.

They are loved ones who went to work helping other people and never returned home.

More information about Virginia’s roadway safety laws and what to do after a crash is available at VDOT’s Driver Safety website.