CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Former Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor Renny Humphrey was hit by a car and injured outside her mother's home Beach Road Sunday night, according to family and police sources.
Humphrey was crossing the 12100 block of Beach Road, west of Bundle Road, at about 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Chesterfield Police Lt. George Burgess. Witnesses said she was disposing a snake she had just killed with a hoe when the car hit her. The driver of the car that hit Humphrey was also hurt and taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The Chesterfield County Crash Team has not yet completed its investigation into the incident.
One witness who asked us to not identify her said she pulled up to the accident scene minutes after Humphrey had been hit. The witness said she immediately knew it was Humphrey and she had her son call 911.
“It was very unfortunate what happened," the witness aid. "She had a flashlight and a garden hoe; she had no reflective clothing."
"You can imagine how dark it is with these trees making it even darker," she added. "The car had no time to react."
Renny Humphrey (PHOTO: Style Weekly)
The woman added that she’s long had concerns about the safety of Beach Road. “This isn’t the first one. I’ve had to call 911 from my own driveway twice --Beach Road is dangerous.” the witness explained.
She said she would like to see the speed limit lowered on that road. A VDOT spokesperson told CBS 6 that last year a speed limit study was conducted on that stretch of Beach Road, at the county’s request.
VDOT found that on average drivers stayed below the 55 mph limit. In the past three years VDOT said there were fewer than five crashes with two injuries, and they found no cause to lower the limit.
The driver of the Lexus was not charged in the accident and he was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Chesterfield Police said the driver was not speeding and alcohol was not a factor.
The witness, who knows Humphrey, said the entire community is praying for her recovery.
“Everyone at the county is very concerned about Ms. Humphrey’s accident and our thoughts are with her and her family during this difficult time," Deputy county administrator for Human Services Sarah Snead said in a statement. "We certainly wish her well and hope for her speedy recovery."
12100 block of Beach Road
Humphrey represented the Matoaca District on the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors from 1996 until 2008 when she decided not to seek re-election.
Humphrey become the youngest person ever elected to the board when she was elected in 1995. When she was later elected chair of the board, she became the first woman to hold the position, according to a 1998 General Assembly resolution honoring her accomplishments.
