September 10,
2017
The Richmond
Police Department Crash Team is investigating a pedestrian fatality that
occurred this morning on the Powhite Parkway.
At approximately
6:21 a.m., a vehicle travelling in the center, southbound EZ-Pass lane of the
Powhite Parkway struck a person in the roadway. It occurred several hundred
feet south of the Forest Hill Avenue overpass.
The victim has
been identified as Julio Cesar Lopez Cornel, 39, of the 400 block of Lingstrom
Lane, North Chesterfield, VA. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the
vehicle remained at the scene and has been interviewed by RPD Crash Team
investigators.
The investigation
is still in its early stages. No decision has been made on possible charges, if
any, until investigators present their findings to the Commonwealth’s
Attorney’s Office.
All southbound
EZ-Pass lanes of the Powhite Parkway were reopened approximately three hours
after the incident occurred. Traffic was able to get by either by exiting onto
Forest Hill Avenue or travelling through the right-hand EZ-Pass and cash toll
lanes.
