A tragic incident occurred in Richmond when a woman was charged with a felony hit and run after striking and killing 23-year-old Hope Cartwright, an editor at Virginia Living magazine. The accused, Latesha Coleman, allegedly drove away after hitting Cartwright as she was crossing a street using a crosswalk on February 16. Cartwright was found unresponsive in the roadway and later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital.
Coleman, a resident of Richmond, was swiftly identified as the driver responsible for the fatal crash through traffic camera footage and data from Flock Automatic License Plate Readers. Police located her parked car within an hour of the incident, leading to her arrest. As of Thursday, February 19, it was unclear whether Coleman had legal representation or entered a plea.
Richmond Police Department Chief Rick Edwards commended the officers and investigators for their swift arrest, attributing it to a combination of good police work and technology. Cartwright, a Richmond native, had been working as an associate editor at Virginia Living for nearly two years. Described as a talented and dedicated team member, Cartwright was praised for her leadership skills and storytelling abilities by editor-in-chief Madeline Mayhood.
The community was devastated by Cartwright’s untimely death, with local resident Ari Abad sharing details of the tragic incident captured by his Ring camera. Abad described the collision as harrowing, stating that Cartwright was hit from behind and dragged by the vehicle. The footage was crucial in aiding the police investigation.
In a heartfelt statement, Mayhood expressed shock and disbelief over Cartwright’s passing, emphasizing her exceptional qualities and contributions to Virginia Living. Chief Edwards confirmed that the Richmond Police Department is actively investigating several fatal collisions, with a focus on leveraging technology and diligent police work to bring justice to victims and their families.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the crash to contact Richmond Police Detective Kimberly Quinn or Crime Stoppers. The tragic loss of Hope Cartwright serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the devastating impact of hit and run incidents.
