Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
Virginia
'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.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – First responders never stop training, and this week almost 500 from across Virginia are honing their skills in Blacksburg.
The Virginia Association of First Responders now includes EMTs, firefighters, police officers and many others who answer the call in an emergency.
Thursday, a farm accident and a collision involving a car and school bus were just two of the scenarios they encountered.
“It’s a week-long opportunity, not only for technical stuff like this, but for medical classes,” said Covington Volunteer Rescue Squad member Greg Burton. “People call 911 every day for something. And we’re just here to help ease the problem a little bit.”
The annual conference also includes a Rescue Camp for young people with an interest in emergency services.
43 campers are taking part in a variety of activities, including a session on scuba diving Thursday afternoon.
Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A brush fire in a wooded area on Criollo Drive Wednesday afternoon was set by children playing with fire, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Units with Virginia Beach Fire and Virginia Beach Police were dispatched to the 3700 block of Criollo Drive in reference to a report of a possible fire in a wooded area at approximately 5 p.m.
Upon arrival, crews saw light smoke coming from a wooded area. They quickly had the brush fire under control at 6:05 p.m. and marked out at 6:37 p.m.
There were no injuries reported to civilians, firefighters or pets.
A VBFD Fire Investigator determined that the fire was set by kids playing with fire.
There are no charges being filed currently.
For Navy Vice-Admiral Douglas Perry, you could say all roads, or waterways, lead to Hampton Roads.
“It is more than full circle,” said Perry, who noted he went to the first Harborfest downtown in 1976.
And when he saw those tall ships led by Coast Guard Cutter Barque Eagle, “I was sold. I wanted to go to sea. I wanted to be a naval officer.”
Link: https://www.wavy.com/living-local/50th-harborfest-weekend-more-than-full-circle-for-navy-vice-admiral/
-
South-Carolina6 minutes agoSouth Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease
-
South Dakota9 minutes agoSouth Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Noem now implicated in his niece’s death
-
Tennessee21 minutes ago8 Biggest Winners, 4 Losers from Tennessee Titans’ Minicamp
-
Texas24 minutes agoSweep in the heart of Texas: Twins beat Rangers again
-
Utah29 minutes agoRock Canyon fire doubles in size overnight near Arizona-Utah border
-
Vermont36 minutes agoPossible tornado causes damage in small Vermont town during Thursday’s intense storms – The Boston Globe
-
Virginia39 minutes agoFirst responders train in Blacksburg
-
Washington44 minutes agoWashington State University Vancouver faculty, staff anxiously await details of 15% budget cuts
