CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- William Hillsman had just sat down for dinner Thursday night when a minivan slammed into his Chesterfield home. The van hit and killed the 54-year-oldat his kitchen table at about 6 p.m. As mourners brought flowers to the Greenfield Drive home Friday, family members called what happened to Hillsman a freak accident. Police said the driver of the minivan suffered some sort medical issue prior to the deadly crash.
William Hillsman
"A 2008 Kia Sedona was traveling west on Robious Road when it veered across several lanes of traffic at the intersection of Robious Road and Greenfield Drive. The van hit a mound of snow, went airborne, struck several trees and a fence, and went through part of a residence," a Chesterfield Police spokeswoman wrote in an email. "The van’s driver and passenger were transported to Johnston-Willis Hospital with non-life threatening injuries."
Hillsman, who worked for more than a decade at the Lowe's near Chesterfield Towne Center, was remembered by managers Friday as a dedicated employee with a great work ethic. They noted on the day he was killed, Hillsman made it to work on-time despite the seven inches of snow that shut down most of Central Virginia Thursday morning.
Thursday night after the accident, crews worked to shore up and reinforce the home so investigators could safely get inside. Neighbors who came out to see what was going on, shared stories about what they saw and heard.
"We heard a revving engine, a big loud screech and a big crash. We saw smoke coming out of the yard," neighbor Jeff Duncan said. "It completely destroyed the man’s kitchen. There were appliances in the backyard."
Police said the investigation into this incident was on-going.
Jon Burkett will have a full report tonight on CBS 6 News at 5 and 6.
