PORTSMOUTH, Virginia — What should have been an ordinary Thursday night became a scene of heartbreak at the junction of Elm Avenue and High Street, where a three-vehicle crash claimed the lives of two young adults and left another person hurt.
At about 10:50 p.m., a westbound car on High Street struck a second vehicle near Elm Avenue. The force of the collision shoved that car into a pickup truck parked nearby. When Portsmouth police and medics arrived, they found 23-year-old Ny Asia Hill and 24-year-old Deandre Lilly inside the hit vehicle. Both were pronounced dead before they could be taken to a hospital.
The driver of the first car, who police say appears to have been impaired by alcohol, was transported to a local medical center. The extent of that person’s injuries has not been publicly disclosed, but officials indicated charges are forthcoming as detectives work to complete their report.
Emergency crews blocked off the intersection for hours, gathering evidence and directing traffic. Neighbors spoke of sirens and flashing lights disturbing the late-night calm, and of feeling a chill as they watched authorities investigate the wreck.
Friends and family members of Hill and Lilly gathered in the early hours of the morning, consoling one another and trying to make sense of the loss. Hill was remembered as a bright young woman with plans for the future, and Lilly was described as a caring friend who brought laughter into the lives of those around him.
Investigators have not released further details about how fast the vehicles were traveling or whether any witnesses have come forward. Police continue to ask anyone with information to contact the Portsmouth Police Investigations Bureau to aid in understanding the full circumstances of the crash.
In a community still reeling from the news, the loss of two lives this way has left a deep mark, a reminder of how quickly life can change on an ordinary street corner.
