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Teen driver eluding Virginia police kills man mowing lawn

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Police say a 17-year-old girl struck and killed a man mowing grass Friday afternoon in Virginia.

Officer Brandon Maynard with Newport News Police says at 3:22 p.m., fugitive units were conducting a traffic stop in the area of Shields and Richneck Road, trying to serve a warrant on a 34-year-old Shawn Collier, who was wanted out of Richmond and Chesterfield on drug charges.

As police took the man into custody, a 17-year-old female passenger in the vehicle jumped into the driver seat and took off. At one point, police say she took a corner too fast and struck a man that was mowing a lawn in the 900 block of Red Oak Circle. The man was killed.

The teen girl continued driving after hitting the man and ended up striking a parked vehicle on the street before coming to a stop. Police say the teen then knocked on the door of a nearby home to use a phone to call a relative. She turned herself in and police have taken her into custody.

The 17-year-old was wanted on a warrant out of Henrico County for a robbery. She was listed as a runaway, according to police.

The Newport News Fire Department brought lawn equipment to the neighborhood to help the family with yard work. Firefighters said they did not want credit for the act.