Deadly crash at crosswalk raises shopping safety concerns this holiday season
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Co. (WRIC) -- A man died a week after being hit by a car at a crosswalk at a Chesterfield County shopping center -- the same day a shooting took place at a Colonial Heights mall. On Saturday, Dec. 7, 48-year-old Dong J. Hwang of Chesterfield was walking in the crosswalk on Winterfield Crossing South near the Winterfield Shopping Center when he was hit by a car. A week later, on Dec. 14, he died at a local hospital. The driver who hit Hwang remained at the scene following the crash, but police have not yet released information on whether charges will be filed as the investigation continues. Hwang died the same day someone opened fire at Southpark Mall, injuring a 22-year-old man. With the holiday season now in full swing, these incidents have raised fears among local shoppers about the dangers of busy shopping areas. “It actually makes me really concerned,” said Jessica Dishong, who was walking home from work the day Hwang was hit. She told 8News that she saw the police activity and it worried her. TAKING ACTION: 2 widowers, 2 home improvement horrors, zero charges Dishong, whose daily route home passes by the Winterfield Shopping Center, said she's noticed several issues with the area -- including that it's especially hard to see there at night. "A lot of them [drivers] tend to drive faster than the speed limit around here," Dishong said. "You could be stepping down at the sidewalk [or] be in the crosswalk and some of them will just fly by you before you even get to the other side.” As the holidays bring people out in force, that kind of hustle and bustle creates an inherent safety concern, according to Dishong. "My fear with all of it is, you know, busy areas -- that's where I feel like they [criminals] target the most," she said. If you plan on being out and about holiday shopping any time soon, law enforcement agencies always advise that you heed road signs, be alert and try not to be in a hurry.
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Co. (WRIC) -- A man died a week after being hit by a car at a crosswalk at a Chesterfield County shopping center -- the same day a shooting took place at a Colonial Heights mall.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, 48-year-old Dong J. Hwang of Chesterfield was walking in the crosswalk on Winterfield Crossing South near the Winterfield Shopping Center when he was hit by a car. A week later, on Dec. 14, he died at a local hospital.
The driver who hit Hwang remained at the scene following the crash, but police have not yet released information on whether charges will be filed as the investigation continues.
Hwang died the same day someone opened fire at Southpark Mall, injuring a 22-year-old man. With the holiday season now in full swing, these incidents have raised fears among local shoppers about the dangers of busy shopping areas.
“It actually makes me really concerned,” said Jessica Dishong, who was walking home from work the day Hwang was hit. She told 8News that she saw the police activity and it worried her.
TAKING ACTION: 2 widowers, 2 home improvement horrors, zero charges
Dishong, whose daily route home passes by the Winterfield Shopping Center, said she's noticed several issues with the area -- including that it's especially hard to see there at night.
"A lot of them [drivers] tend to drive faster than the speed limit around here," Dishong said. "You could be stepping down at the sidewalk [or] be in the crosswalk and some of them will just fly by you before you even get to the other side.”
As the holidays bring people out in force, that kind of hustle and bustle creates an inherent safety concern, according to Dishong.
"My fear with all of it is, you know, busy areas -- that's where I feel like they [criminals] target the most," she said.
If you plan on being out and about holiday shopping any time soon, law enforcement agencies always advise that you heed road signs, be alert and try not to be in a hurry.
