The Virginia Beach community is mourning the tragic loss of 34-year-old Kathleen Bachand, who was killed Thursday night in a fatal hit-and-run crash along Pacific Avenue.
According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, Emergency Communications and Citizen Services received reports of a pedestrian being struck at approximately 9 p.m. in the 900 block of Pacific Avenue. Officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel responded quickly to the scene, where they discovered Kathleen Bachand deceased in the roadway.
A preliminary investigation conducted by the department’s Traffic Safety Unit revealed that Bachand was inside a marked crosswalk at the time of the crash when she was struck by a vehicle. Authorities say the driver fled the scene immediately following the collision, leaving behind a devastating scene and prompting an urgent investigation.
Investigators later located the suspected driver, identified as 48-year-old John Peacock, in a nearby hotel parking lot. Police said Peacock was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities confirmed that Peacock has been charged with manslaughter and felony hit-and-run in connection with the crash. Investigators also stated that alcohol impairment is suspected as a factor in the incident, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The sudden and heartbreaking death of Kathleen Bachand has left family members, friends, and members of the Virginia Beach community grieving a life taken far too soon. Loved ones are now mourning the loss of a woman whose final moments unfolded in a tragic act that authorities say could have been made even more devastating by impaired driving.
As tributes and condolences continue to pour in, many are also expressing frustration and sadness over the dangers pedestrians face on busy roadways, especially when drivers fail to stop and render aid after a collision.
