According to Virginia Commonwealth University, a student perished in a traffic accident on Thursday evening.
According to a VCU online post, Shawn Soares was killed in the 300 block of West Main Street.
The demise of Shawn is tragic and heartbreaking. “I knew Shawn and collaborated with him on numerous issues,” VCU President Michael Rao said on Friday. “He was an extraordinarily positive force in our universe and lived to make everyone’s lives better. He was among the finest pupils I’ve ever encountered.
Soares was also a member of the Young Democrats of Virginia. This group asserts that Shawn “is an irreplaceable member of our community, and we will all continue to honor him and live up to his memory.”
Soares was walking along the sidewalk when he was struck by a vehicle.
“When officers arrived, they discovered that two westbound vehicles on West Main Street had collided,” the Richmond Police Department said Friday afternoon. “A vehicle veered off the roadway and struck a utility pole and an adult male on the footpath. “The vehicle continued and struck a structure.”
Soares, age 26, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Both vehicles remained on the scene,” according to police. “Investigators have not yet filed charges in connection with this incident.”
Rao stated in his post that Richmond’s streets and footpaths at VCU require “major change.”
Rao stated, “The university is fully committed to making improvements and expects the city to collaborate with us.”
This year, VCU initiated a pedestrian safety initiative. Additionally, campus police have increased traffic enforcement.
Through our partnership with the city, VCU will implement significant changes to the municipal streets on and adjacent to campus, according to Rao’s post.
Anyone with information regarding the incident that occurred on Thursday is asked to contact RPD Crash Team Investigator D. Olson at 804-646-1664 or Crime Stoppers at 807-800-1000.
