Henrico County is currently on pace for 2024 to be the deadliest year for pedestrians in the county’s history.
County leaders urged drivers, bikers and walkers to do their part as the county continues working on more than $170 million in projects to make its roads safer.
There have been 10 deadly crashes involving pedestrians in Henrico County since the start of 2024, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation crash database. That was the second highest total in Virginia behind Fairfax County, which has almost 800,000 more residents.
Three of those Henrico deaths happened within 2.5 miles of each other on Staples Mill Road. They included a 2-year-old infant, a 27-year-old man and 15-year-old Nathaniel Clark Jr., who was walking home from work in September.
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“Each loss is a tragedy, and it underscores the urgency of our efforts to create safer streets for everyone,” said Terrell Hughes, Department of Public Works director. “We have a significant task ahead of us to retrofit our county into a place that is truly safe for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Henrico County’s growth has largely been designed with cars in mind, like many suburbs across the country. Of 1,400 miles of roads in Henrico, Hughes said there are only 276 miles of sidewalks, 45 miles of paved trails and 33 miles of bike lanes.
Ashley Fisher’s son Nathaniel Clark Jr. was killed by a vehicle while walking home from work in September. She is urging the county for more pedestrian safety infrastructure.
Ashley Fisher’s son Nathaniel Clark Jr. was killed by a vehicle while walking home from work in September. She is urging the county for more pedestrian safety infrastructure.
Ashley Fisher, the mother of 15-year-old Nathaniel Clark, spoke at a Henrico County news conference announcing the work being done for pedestrian safety.
Her son wanted to walk and have his independence. He walked to the Firehouse Subs on Staples Mill Road where he worked to interview for the job on his own. When Fisher offered to give him a ride, he always preferred to walk.
She said the projects planned for safer streets give her some comfort, but she hopes those projects are followed through until the end.
“This is a busy and very populated area. You have major grocery stores on the left, on the right you have other businesses and then you also have two major schools,” Fisher said. “There should be infrastructure with more sidewalks and lighting to make it safer.”
Hughes said that the problems on Staples Mill Road specifically, go beyond sidewalks. Large stretches of the thoroughfare has sidewalks on both sides. What it doesn’t have is adequate lighting or crosswalks, he said, which is where the county is focusing most of its efforts.
Nearly 90% of pedestrian fatalities happen at night, the county said.
Staples Mill is a road maintained by VDOT. Hughes said Henrico has inquired about taking over the administration of Staples Mill to have direct control over safety improvements. Currently, the county has to coordinate with VDOT to add improvements.
Ashley Fisher’s 15-year-old son Nathaniel Clark Jr. was killed along Staples Mill Road in September while walking home from work. She speaks at a press conference for Henrico’s WOAH! safety campaign.
Countywide, Henrico has 57 active pedestrian safety improvement projects valued at over $170 million. All told those include 13 miles of sidewalk, 10 miles of shared use paths and pedestrian crosswalks with signals. The county also has $1.5 million allocated to improve lighting along key roadways.
The priority roadways are Staples Mill, Nine Mile Road, Williamsburg Road and Broad Street, which will have close to 90% sidewalk coverage when funded projects are complete.
Public safety officials attended the press conference Tuesday morning to promote the “Watch Out Ahead Henrico” or “WOAH! Campaign.”
“These type of crashes change people’s lives, not only for the pedestrian and their family, but also for the driver involved, our community members and our first responders,” said Ken Burnett, executive chief of police. “We all play a role in making sure that everyone traveling across our county gets to their destination safe.”
County leaders urged drivers to reduce their speed, watch for pedestrians and leave at least 3 feet of space for cyclists. Runners and walkers are asked to use sidewalks and crosswalks, face drivers when walking if there are no sidewalks and wear reflective clothing.
As part of WOAH!, Henrico has made reflective vests available for free at police stations, county buildings, public libraries and recreation centers.
From the Archives: Scenes from Church Hill
In February 1965, this section of East Broad Street was suggested to be acquired by the city for a new elementary school. The 20-year Richmond master plan from November 1964 recommended removing nine elementary schools and building eight new ones, including one on this site. The plan was subject to change – and indeed, these houses are still standing today at Broad and North 31st streets.
In October 1954, Hurricane Hazel swept through Richmond and left its mark on the old Trinity Methodist Church on Church Hill. The steeple of the church, which by then was occupied by New Light Baptist Church, lost its top 25 feet. Despite pre-storm efforts to raise funds to restore the nearly 90-year-old spire, the hurricane damage was insurmountable, and the entire steeple was removed in 1955.
In January 1958, discussions were underway to raze this stretch of East Broad Street on Church Hill, opposite St. John's Episcopal Church, to create Patrick Henry Park. The Historic Richmond Foundation worked to secure state funding, which was supplemented with a bequest from the late Mayor J. Fulmer Bright. The park opened in the early 1960s.
This April 1958 image shows a house at 25th and East Grace streets on Church Hill, with St. John’s Church in the background. The Historic Richmond Foundation was intent on redeveloping Church Hill, and volunteers were preparing to conduct tours of the historic area.
In April 1983, cyclists raced up Church Hill on 24th Street in Richmond during the Tour of America. Supporters hoped the three-day competition would mimic the Tour de France in America, but the race was canceled the following year because of a lack of sponsorship funding.
In December 1973, a man and his dog walked in snow-covered Jefferson Park in the Union Hill neighborhood of Richmond near Church Hill.
In June 1955, workers had just finished taking down the spire at the old Trinity Methodist Church after Hurricane Hazel damaged it beyond repair the previous October. The steeple of the church, which by then was occupied by New Light Baptist, had lost its top 25 feet in the storm.
In June 1941, Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech was re-enacted at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741.
In September 1941, amid a nationwide gas shortage, Harry J. Donati (left) and Joseph G. Robben drove their horse-drawn carriage down 25th Street in Church Hill in Richmond.
In July 1967, members of the Nolde family – Henry (from left), George, Carl and Arthur – watched bread roll off the assembly line at the Nolde Bros. Bakery in Church Hill in Richmond. Their relatives started a small baking operation in the 1890s, and by 1950, three area Nolde plants produced almost a million loaves per week to be sold nationally. Nolde closed in 1977.
In September 1963, members of the Historic Richmond Foundation examined homes in the 2300 block of East Broad Street. The Church Hill homes, known as Carrington Row, were in the early stages of restoration by the foundation.
In December 1988, a candlelight walk on Church Hill in Richmond was a highlight of the neighborhood’s annual weekend Christmas Festival. Other seasonal events around the city included a holiday musical at the Byrd Theatre and “Nutcracker” performances by the Richmond Ballet.
In December 1985, special effects engineer Dick Johnson sprayed fake snow around St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond, which was serving as a set for the CBS miniseries “Dream West.” The “snow” was a combination of soap, water and air. The miniseries focused on 19th-century American adventurer John Charles Fremont, who was portrayed by Richard Chamberlain.
In April 1969, Alden Aaroe broadcasted from WRVA’s radio studio on Church Hill in Richmond. The one-story building, designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, had opened a year earlier and welcomed more than 17,000 people on tours. It was made of concrete and featured what Johnson called “punched holes” for windows – rounded-corner rectangles that offered views of the Shockoe area and downtown.
In January 1958, this horse and wagon raced through the streets of Church Hill in Richmond before stopping after hitting a car. Horse owner Chester C. Sully said he was making a coal delivery when the horse got startled by a noise and took off on a five-minute gallop, which ended around Jefferson Avenue and 23rd Street, where the wagon broke the car’s windshield and left rear window.
The Morris Cottage at 2500 E. Grace St. was purchased and given to the Historic Richmond Foundation for restoration.
Hilary Baker house at 2302 East Grace St. in Church Hill. Major restoration was done at the time by the William Byrd Branch, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
Workmen repair Harwood House on Church Hill. Restoration of old home is nearly complete.
In July 1953, the Richmond Health Department highlighted improvements made in a block of Church Hill bounded by Grace, Broad, 23rd and 24th streets – including a spruced-up alleyway with new fencing. The Libby Hill Civic Association was set to lead rehabilitation and beautification for 14 more blocks in the area, with improvements such as removal of old sheds, fresh exterior painting and interior upgrades to some houses in one of the city’s oldest sections.
