At least two injured in crash at intersection of Benjamin and Riverside

At least two people were taken to the hospital by ambulance Thursday morning following a crash at the intersection of Benjamin Avenue and Riverside Boulevard in Norfolk. Around 8:15 a.m., the Norfolk Police Division and Norfolk Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the intersection for a report of an accident involving at least three vehicles.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue and the Norfolk Police Division are at the intersection of Riverside Boulevard and Benjamin Avenue for an injury crash involving at least three vehicles. pic.twitter.com/4SG6av7M4h[1]

-- Austin Svehla (@austin_svehla) November 9, 2023[2]

At the scene, a sedan and and SUV could be seen with heavy front-end damage. The sedan came to rest facing northwest in the middle of the intersection, and the SUV was facing east on Benjamin Avenue.

An older van also appeared to be involved and was near the SUV. All three vehicles were towed from the scene. One person was seen being removed from the sedan and loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher.

A second person was placed into another ambulance shortly thereafter, but it was unclear which vehicle that patient had occupied. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known. Police blocked Riverside Boulevard between Benjamin Avenue and Isabelle Avenue.

Officers also were directing traffic through the intersection, which is the site of an ongoing construction project. A construction crew near the scene of the crash briefly paused work while emergency personnel treated patients. The intersection and surrounding area have been the site of numerous vehicle collisions since a Benjamin Avenue construction project began in April 2022, according to Norfolk police accident reports.

When construction began, the police division issued a press release asking drivers to give themselves extra time when traveling through the area.

"Motorists must pay attention to the signs and lanes that have been set up for drivers to use while driving through the construction," the release said.

The police division also said it is illegal for motorists to bypass the intersection and traffic control devices by driving through private parking lots.

References

1. ^ pic.twitter.com/4SG6av7M4h (t.co)
2. ^ November 9, 2023 (twitter.com)