A left turn across traffic is one of the hardest everyday moves in driving. When a large vehicle blocks your view of another lane, the risk jumps. A Saturday crash in Pittsylvania County put that hazard in sharp focus.
What Happened
According to WDBJ7, citing Virginia State Police, a two-vehicle crash around 11:58 a.m. on Nov. 7 at Spring Garden Road and Route 29 injured a Pittsylvania County deputy, an adult, and three juveniles.
VSP’s initial investigation indicated the deputy was driving a patrol vehicle while responding to a call. As the deputy made a left turn from Route 29 southbound onto Spring Garden Road, the deputy was unable to avoid hitting a vehicle that had been obscured by a large truck. The truck had stopped to allow the deputy to complete the turn, according to VSP.
There were four people in the other vehicle. The adult driver and two juvenile passengers had non-life-threatening injuries. One other juvenile had serious injuries and was flown to a hospital. VSP said none of the people in that vehicle were wearing seat belts. The deputy had non-life-threatening injuries.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office confirmed one of its deputies was involved while en route to a 911 call and asked Virginia State Police to investigate. We’re thinking of everyone who was hurt, especially the juvenile with serious injuries, and hoping for their recovery. The investigation will determine what happened. The lessons below are general.
When a Truck Blocks Your View
A stopped truck that waves you through can feel helpful. It can also hide another vehicle in the next lane or a vehicle coming around the truck.
- Don’t rely only on a wave. Treat a courtesy stop as a warning that your view may be blocked.
- Lean and look past large vehicles before you commit to a left turn.
- Wait for a gap you can see through, not just a gap someone else creates.
- If you’re the driver who stopped to help, remember you may be screening traffic from the turning driver.
Left Turns Across a Highway
Turning left from a busy highway onto a side road means crossing lanes that may still be moving.
- Signal early.
- Get into the correct position and wait for a clear path.
- Watch for vehicles in every lane that could be hidden by trucks, SUVs, or roadside objects.
- If you’re unsure, wait. Another gap will come.
Seat Belts Protect Everyone in the Car
VSP reported that nobody in the struck vehicle was belted. Seat belts are one of the simplest protections in any crash, including one you didn’t cause.
- Buckle every seat, every trip, before you shift into gear.
- Adults set the example for younger passengers.
- A belt only works if it’s on before the impact.
Emergency Responses and Civilian Traffic
When a patrol vehicle is responding to a call, other drivers still share the road. Civilians should:
- Yield to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens when the law requires it.
- Avoid blocking intersections or stopping in a way that hides other lanes.
- Remember that a stopped truck creating a “courtesy gap” can hide a vehicle behind it from a turning driver.
Clear sight lines protect everyone, including people answering 911 calls.
Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic
Defensive driving practice helps with judgment at intersections and with building safer habits. Defensive Drivers Institute’s Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic Online is approved by Virginia DMV and is 100% online. You can take a break anytime and pick up where you left off, and every lesson can be read aloud to you. Depending on why you take it, finishing the clinic may earn you safe driving points on your Virginia driving record. If a court sent you, check with the court that it accepts an online clinic.
For an overview of who needs the clinic, see our Virginia Driver Improvement guide.
The Bottom Line
A left turn needs a clear sight line, not just an open-looking gap. Look past large vehicles, wait until you can see every lane, and make sure everyone in the car is buckled.
Ready to sharpen your driving habits? Start the Virginia Driver Improvement Clinic Online.
