Pedestrian-involved crashes triple in Historic Triangle

Here are the week’s top stories.

Pedestrian-related crashes are up significantly this year in the Historic Triangle.

Crashes involving pedestrians have tripled in James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg compared to this time last year, data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shows.

What the numbers show: From January 1 to November 15, 2022, there were four pedestrian-involved crashes in James City County, four in York County and two in the City of Williamsburg. During that same time frame in 2023, there were 12 pedestrian-involved crashes in James City County, 12 in York County and six in the City of Williamsburg. 

Some background: In October, three serious pedestrian-involved crashes occurred in the Historic Triangle: one in Williamsburg and two in James City County.

• On Oct. 16, 48-year-old Shaine Henderson of Williamsburg suffered life-threatening injuries and later died at the scene after he was struck by a vehicle driven by Christopher Newport University’s police chief, Dan Woloszynowski.
• Less than two weeks later, a 21-year-old William & Mary student was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was struck on Oct. 26 in downtown Williamsburg by an SUV driven by Colonial Williamsburg CEO and president Cliff Fleet. The Virginia Gazette reported earlier this month that the student, Rosemary Raynal, was transferred to a traumatic brain injury unit in North Carolina, where she is expected to face a long road to recovery.
• Finally, an accident on Oct. 30 in James City County, sent a pedestrian to the hospital with serious injuries. Mehki Teachey, 22, of Newport News, was charged with one count of felony hit and run involving injury or death. The incident remains under investigation.

The Triangle reached out to DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety representative, for comment. He urged pedestrians to be mindful of their surroundings at all times and added that pedestrian crashes are especially common in the fall and winter months when more hours of the day are dark.

• “Last month, 61% of pedestrian crashes and 82% of fatalities occurred in the dark or dusk times of the day. During this time of year, especially, we urge pedestrians and drivers to be extra cautious,”Lackey said. “Remember that being seen is your best defense as a pedestrian. This means crossing at intersections, staying on sidewalks in well-lit areas whenever possible and, most importantly, wear bright colors, and remember to turn on the flashlight on your smartphone. Even better, include reflective clothing, bike or shoe lights or carry a flashlight.”

Speeding and distracted driving are major risk factors for pedestrian crashes, Lackey added. As a result, it is imperative for drivers to remain focused on the road and be on the lookout for pedestrians.

• “Drivers, please slow down. The faster you are going, the less time you have to react, so obey the posted speed limits,” Lackey said. “And remember not to drive distracted. Just a few seconds of your eyes off the road put you and everyone else around you at risk, especially pedestrians.”

According to Lt. Sterling Perry, James City County’s crash and highway safety expert, pedestrians often did not have the right away in cases the county investigated since September. 

• “Our county, characterized by dense forests and unlit roadways, underscores the importance for pedestrians to exercise extra caution, utilize designated paths, and prioritize high visibility,” Perry told The Triangle. “Simultaneously, it’s imperative for motorists to stay focused, adhere to traffic laws, and remain alert for pedestrians at all times.”

While pedestrian-related crashes are up in the Historic Triangle this year, Perry said he’s encouraged by the fact that overall crash fatalities in James City County are down slightly in 2023. To address the rise in pedestrian-involved incidents, the county is dedicating extra efforts to participate in grant-funded campaigns, like the National Click-it-or-Ticket in November and Drive-Sober or Get Pulled Over in December, Perry said.

• “We strongly encourage all community members to remain vigilant, exercise caution, and adhere to safety guidelines, as we are committed to fostering safer roadways for everyone,” Perry said.

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Holland America Cruise Line made plans to come to Yorktown in 2025. Then, they reversed course.

Holland America Line canceled two stops in Yorktown in 2025, saying the company decided to change its plans amid pushback from local residents.

Marketing content posted to the cruise line’s website touted the opportunity for guests to visit Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg, where “living history museums bring America’s beginning to life.”

• “Disembark the ship in Yorktown, minutes from the Yorktown Battlefield, where the Allied soldiers and British troops fought the Revolutionary War’s last major battle,” the cruise company’s website states. “Yorktown has more to explore, but Colonial Williamsburg awaits. More than 300 acres of gardens, exhibition sites, tucked-away taverns and more immerse you in the 18th century.”

But email communication obtained by WTKR News 3 shows that the company reversed course once it became aware of concerns residents recently expressed in response to Princess Cruise Line’s plans to dock in Yorktown starting next year.

• “We weren’t aware of the sensitivity to cruise ships in Yorktown nor the close work with PCL [Princess Cruise Line] on their 2024 calls,” a representative from the cruise line said in an email to a York County spokesperson. “We saw an opportunity based on PCL opening the port, so we thought we would try the calls on our coastal sailings as well… Please note that we never intended to cause any issues with the port or local community by adding these calls onto our sailings.”

As of Thursday morning, the Holland America website still showed three 2025 cruises with planned stops in Yorktown: a 15-day cruise originating in Fort Lauderdale and sailing to Quebec City on the Zuiderdam cruise ship in May 2025, a 14-day cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal on the Volendam in June 2025 and a 14-day “Colonial New England” cruise departing from Montreal on the Volendam with an arrival in Fort Lauderdale in September 2025. 

Some background: Last February, Princess Cruises caught many residents off guard when it announced plans to add Yorktown to its itinerary beginning in 2024. Locals who oppose the plan say the York County Board of Supervisors acted without transparency by seemingly greenlighting the cruise line’s proposal without seeking public input. They also argue that the scale of the ships is inappropriate for Yorktown’s small community and expressed concerns about Princess’ possible impact on the environment and historic sites.

• Preserve Yorktown, a grassroots organization fighting against Princess’ plans, launched a petition in July that had garnered 6,731 signatures as of Thursday morning. “The citizens of York County have not been included in the decision about Princess Cruises that has significant impact on our historic community, environment, and the quality of life in Yorktown,” the petition states.

Douglas Holroyd, who was recently elected to serve York County’s Board of Supervisors for District 1, told The Triangle last month that he will not support Princess Cruises’ plans until more data proves that the benefits will outweigh any potential drawbacks.

• “We have yet to see financial reconciliation of costs versus benefits to the County, we have yet to see a detailed environmental assessment and we have not been provided a mechanism that allows the County to establish limits on number and size of vessels,” Holroyd said. “Until these steps are taken, the answer must remain ‘NO.’ Provided we receive satisfactory answers to each of these questions, and a public forum is conducted to determine acceptability, only then will there be a path to accept a limited number of ships.”

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Historic Jamestowne will re-create a 17th-Century Virginia Christmas with ‘At Christmas be Mery.’

Jamestown Rediscovery will present its annual holiday program, “At Christmas Be Mery,” A Special Evening at Historic Jamestown, on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Visitors will step back in time to 1621 to join Sir Francis Wyatt, the colony’s newly arrived governor, for an early Virginia Christmas celebration. 

The candlelit program will feature costumed interpreters, traditional a capella performances, caroling, a bonfire and other traditions our 17th-century ancestors would have participated in. Tickets can be purchased in advance and are $25.00 each.

• Historical background: The program’s title, “At Christmas Be Mery,” is taken from a poem published in 1580 by English poet Thomas Tusser. The poem’s full line is “At Christmas be mery, and thanke god of all: and feast thy pore neighbors, the great with the small, yea al the yere long, have an eie [eye] to the poore: and god shall sende luck, to kepe open thy doore.” The poem references the traditional gift-giving practices of the holiday season that we continue to appreciate today. 

Guests will have a unique opportunity to see Jamestown Island aglow with firelight, according to Angel Johnston, Jamestown Rediscovery’s communications manager. The event is designed to explore the traditions associated with the Christmas season, including hanging evergreens, caroling and observing the winter solstice. Attendees will follow the Captain of the Guard along a cresset-lit path to the site of the 1617/18 Memorial Church, where they will meet Governor Sir Francis Wyatt and other Virginia dignitaries. 

The William & Mary Christopher Wren Singers will perform traditional and Renaissance-era songs that would have been known by the Jamestown colonists. Following the church service, visitors will herald in the season by throwing sprigs of holly into the nearby bonfire to make wishes for the coming year.

• “For the first 20 years of the colony, life in Jamestown was extraordinarily difficult, but records suggest that colonists continued celebrating Christmas like they had back home in England or other parts of Europe,” said Willie Balderson, Director of Living History & Historic Trades. “The confluence of different cultures and religions coming together in Europe created unique holiday traditions many people practice today, and I hope guests will come away with a renewed zeal to take part in activities that are literally hundreds of years old.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Jamestown Rediscovery’s website. 

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The City of Williamsburg is offering four hours of free parking during the holiday season.

• Parking at the Prince George Parking Garage will be free for the first four hours daily through New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2024, according to a City of Williamsburg news release. After four hours is up, parking fees will be $1 an hour. The rate adjustment went into effect on Thanksgiving Day.
• The popular garage,located at 230 N. Henry Street,contains a total of 362 parking spaces and two charging stations for electric vehicles. The first level contains two universal charging stations, while the second level includes two Tesla charging stations. Overnight parking is not permitted in the garage.

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Local Crime Notes

• York County clerk shoots suspected robber: A clerk at a York County gas station shot a suspected robber multiple times Tuesday, according to WTKR News 3. York Poquoson Sheriff Ron Montgomery said the incident took place around 9 a.m. at Joe’s Kwik Mart near Ella Taylor Road and George Washington Memorial Highway. A 38-year-old man from Newport News was shot by the clerk two to three times after announcing he was robbing the store, according to the sheriff. Montgomery added that a crime of this nature is a “very rare occurrence” for York County. Surveillance video of the shooting has been obtained by deputies, and the incident remains under investigation.
• Man in custody after firing shots at CNU: A 28-year-old man has been arrested and faces multiple charges after he allegedly fired a series of shots at Christopher Newport University overnight on Nov. 28. The man, identified as Kyle Emery Rumsey of Hayes in Gloucester County, has been charged with five counts of discharge of a firearm, five counts of reckless handling of firearms, one count of burglary and one count of malicious activation of a fire alarm, WAVY News reports. Rumsey allegedly set off a fire alarm at a residence hall and then proceeded to fire shots shortly after 3 a.m. School officials said no victims were located and there is no further threat to the community.