1 dead after car crashes into traffic pole at Oceanfront
VIRGINIA BEACH — A 28-year-old Virginia Beach man died when a car fleeing police crashed into a traffic signal pole near the Peabody’s building Friday night at the Oceanfront.
Three Virginia Beach police officers were injured trying to rescue the driver, identified later as Andy Lee Curry, after the car caught fire, according to a news release from state police.
Just before 11 p.m., a Virginia state trooper saw a Toyota sedan speeding down Interstate 264 near the First Colonial exit heading toward the Oceanfront, the release said.
The car was traveling at more than 100 mph, and the
trooper attempted to stop the vehicle.
As the Toyota passed Parks Avenue and left the interstate, the trooper deactivated his emergency equipment, police said.
At the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 21st Street, the sedan sideswiped several vehicles as it neared stopped traffic. It then crashed near the Peabody’s building at that intersection.
Peabody’s nightclub is on
the second floor and The Bunker Brewpub is on the first floor of the building. The Peabody’s entrance is at ground level.
The vehicle caught fire and Curry died on impact, according to police. Three Virginia Beach officers suffered smoke inhalation
as they attempted to rescue him, state police said. Two pedestrians were hit by debris. One was taken to a hospital, the other refused treatment.
Brandon Ramsey, owner of Peabody’s, was standing in front of the nightclub’s entrance around 11 p.m..
“I’m very happy to be alive,” he said Saturday morning.
He saw the car speeding down 21st Street.
“It was all surreal,” Ramsey said. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to hit that pole.’ All of a sudden — bam.”
Ramsey said the car rammed the traffic signal pole. He saw a car door fly across the sidewalk and glass shards everywhere.
He quickly evacuated about 200 people inside Peabody’s. Ramsey said a band was playing next door, and people who had been standing in front of the building had just gone back inside before the crash.
Henry Hagan, maintenance manager for Ocean Horizon properties, arrived early Saturday to clean the adjacent parking lot and surrounding areas.
Skid marks from the car’s tires were still visible on the street and around the base of the traffic signal pole.
“If he had not hit this pole he would have gone through the building,” Hagan said.
Curry was the only occupant of the vehicle, police said.
Police were continuing to investigate.