PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — State Police say a woman died following a single-vehicle crash on I-264 in Portsmouth overnight.
According to Virginia State Police, initial investigation of the crash revealed that the vehicle was traveling westbound on I-264 just after 2 a.m. at a high rate of speed.
Police say the driver, identified as 39-year-old Virginia Beach resident Shaunte Patrice Ward, attempted to exit at Greenwood Drive in Portsmouth when she lost control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway, and struck a tree head-on. Officials say Ward died instantly.
State Police confirmed that Ward was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. It is yet unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.
Officials say Ward’s family members have been notified of her death.
