Virginia

'It was just one time': A Virginia family's loss sparks new seatbelt law

Published

6 months ago

May 26, 2025

'It was just one time': A Virginia family's loss sparks new seatbelt law

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — A new law going into effect in Virginia is aimed at keeping you safer on the road by bringing awareness to something we may often overlook.

“It was just that one time. He just jumped in the back seat. A lot of people don’t think back seats are as important,” said Christy King, founder of the Christopher King Foundation.

What seemed like a trivial decision, cost a Virginia teen his life.

King’s son Christopher was hanging out with friends just two weeks after his high school graduation in 2020. However, when he got in the back of his friend’s convertible, the night of fun, turned into a nightmare. King said he was in the backseat and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

“He ended up hitting the ditch and that’s when he was thrown from the car to his death. The car actually came up in the air a little bit and landed on its side,” King explained.

After this tragedy, King wanted to make sure no other family had to go through the loss she did. That’s why she pushed for the “Christopher King Seat Belt Bill,” which now requires passengers to wear a seatbelt in the backseat.

Previously, only passengers in the front were required to use a seatbelt.

“Many, many people are just not taking the seatbelt law seriously, and it’s so important,” said State Police spokesperson Robin Lawson.

Lawson said during Memorial Day weekend in 2024, police wrote over 500 tickets for seatbelt violations. She hopes this new law will raise awareness and save lives.

Every day, each and every one of us get in a car, whether we’re riding or driving, and it is one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis, and buckling up protects us,” explained Lawson.

The law goes into effect July 1. It is still considered a secondary violation, which means a trooper can’t pull someone over just because they see they aren’t wearing a seatbelt. However, if a person is pulled over for another reason, and they aren’t wearing a seatbelt, they will get a ticket.

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Virginia

Virginia High School Football Top 25 State Rankings – Nov. 24, 2025

Published

8 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Virginia High School Football Top 25 State Rankings – Nov. 24, 2025

After an impressive inaugural season, The Saint James Performance Academy has a spot in the latest High School on SI Virginia Top 25 poll.

St James, which debuts at No. 9, posted an 8-1 mark, only losing to national No. 1 Saint Frances Academy (Md.) in its season finale. St. James posted a win over perennial Maryland powerhouse Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Thomas Dale also joins the Top 25 at No. 22 after eliminating then-No. 14 Manchester in the Virginia Class 6 Region A playoffs. Thomas Dale (10-1) next plays at No. 1 Oscar Smith in the region final Friday.

Oscar Smith, in pursuit of a second straight Virginia Class 6 state title, is followed by Maury, Varina, Green Run and King’s Fork. Huguenot, Benedictine College Prep, Saint James and Louisa County make up the rest of the Top 10.

Here’s this week’s High School on SI Virginia football Top 25:

Previous rank: No. 1

Record: 10-1

Last week: Defeated Lloyd C. Bird, 50-0, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal

This week: vs. No. 22 Thomas Dale, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 2

Record: 11-1

Last week: Defeated Warwick, 42-10, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal

This week: at No. 5 King’s Fork, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 3

Record: 10-2

Last week: Defeated then-No. 13 Dinwiddie, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal

This week: vs. No. 7 Huguenot, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29

Previous rank: No. 4

Record: 11-0

Last week: Defeated Salem-Virginia Beach, 28-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal

This week: vs. No. 13 Indian River, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 5

Record: 11-1

Last week: Defeated Bethel, 45-28, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal

This week: vs. No. 2 Maury, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 6

Record: 10-1

Last week: Defeated John Champe, 41-0, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal

This week: vs. No. 14 RIverbend, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 8

Record: 11-1

Last week: Defeated then-No. 7 Louisa County, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal

This week: vs. No. 3 Varina, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29

Previous rank: No. 10

Record: 11-1

SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I CHAMPION

Previous rank: Not ranked

Record: 8-1

SEASON COMPLETE

Previous rank: No. 7

Record: 11-1

Last week: Lost to then-No. 8 Huguenot, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal

SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST

Previous rank: No. 11

Record: 9-2

SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I FINALIST

Previous rank: No. 12

Record: 12-0

Last week: Defeated Thomas Jefferson-Richmond, 20-13, Virginia Class 2 Region A semifinal

This week: vs. Poquoson, Virginia Class 2 Region A final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 15

Record: 10-2

Last week: Defeated Cox, 42-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal

This week: at No. 4 Green Run, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 17

Record: 11-0

Last week: Defeated Potomac Falls, 56-6, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal

This week: at No. 6 Stone Bridge, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 13

Record: 11-1

Last week: Lost to No. 3 Varina, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal

SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST

Previous rank: No. 16

Record: 9-3

Last week: Defeated William Fleming, 37-7, Virginia Class 5 Region C semifinal

This week: vs. Hermitage, Virginia Class 5 Region C final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 18

Record: 11-1

Last week: Defeated Smithfield, 35-6, Virginia Class 4 Region A semifinal

This week: vs. Phoebus, Virginia Class 4 Region A final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 19

Record: 7-2

SEASON COMPLETE

Previous rank: No. 21

Record: 9-2

SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION II CHAMPION

Previous rank: No. 23

Record: 9-2

Last week: Defeated Fairfax, 28-7, Virginia Class 6 Region C semifinal

This week: vs. Lake Braddock, Virginia Class 6 Region C final, Nov. 29

Previous rank: No. 24

Record: 10-2

Last week: Defeated then-No. 9 Battlefield, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal

This week: vs. No. 23 Woodbridge, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: Not ranked

Record: 10-1

Last week: Defeated then-No. 14 Manchester, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal

This week: at No. 1 Oscar Smith, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 25

Record: 11-1

Last week: Defeated Colonial Forge, 35-34, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal

This week: at No. 21 North Stafford, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28

Previous rank: No. 9

Record: 10-2

Last week: Lost to then-No. 24 North Stafford, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal

SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION B SEMIFINALIST

Previous rank: No. 14

Record: 10-2

Last week: Lost to Thomas Dale, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal

SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION A SEMIFINALIST

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Virginia

Virginia Beach fire displaces two adults, claims life of pet

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Virginia Beach fire displaces two adults, claims life of pet

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Virginia

James Franklin appears on ESPN broadcast during Virginia Tech-Miami

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

James Franklin appears on ESPN broadcast during Virginia Tech-Miami

Newly hired Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin was on-site for the Hokies’ game against Miami on Saturday, Nov. 22, and made a brief appearance with the ESPN broadcast crew.

Franklin, wearing a Virginia Tech hoodie, explained his decision to the job.

“I think the first thing is, they were very aggressive from the beginning,” Franklin, who was fired by Penn State in October, told ESPN. “They had a plan in place, it wasn’t like, ‘let’s work through this together.’ they already had a plan in place, which I think was very helpful in the process.

Franklin led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season and entered 2025 with huge expectations with numerous returning starters. However, Penn State lost three consecutive games to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern before Franklin was fired in October.

Franklin is now tasked with revitalizing Virginia Tech, which has won more than seven games just twice since 2018.

Legendary coach Frank Beamer, the best coach in Virginia Tech history, also gave Franklin his blessing, signifying his confidence in the Hokies’ next leader.

“I got a ton of respect for what he has been able to do across his career, but obviously specifically here at Virginia Tech. So I wanted to call him to pay respect, number one. He built this program. Everybody loves him and his family. … I called Frank Beamer, I said, ‘Coach, about to make this decision. Before I do, I want your blessing to be sure you’d comfortable with me taking over your program.’”

Franklin hasn’t coached, and won’t coach a Virginia Tech game until 2026, but he accomplished an important first step since being officially introduced Nov. 19.

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