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Nelson Michael Smith

Age : 17

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/04/2025

Location : Route 29 south of R & L Smith Lane

City : Pittsylvania

County : Pittsylvania

State : Virginia

Agency : Virginia State Police

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/04/2025 at approximately 9:21 p.m., a Virginia State Police trooper attempted to stop a Kia SUV for speeding in Halifax County. The driver, later identified as Alton Willie Devone Wade, 26, continued driving away while the trooper pursued. The pursuit entered Pittsylvania County, where Wade drove the wrong way in the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 29.
Near R and L Smith Lane, Wade's Kia struck a southbound Ford Focus head-on. The driver of the Ford Focus, Nelson Michael Smith, 17, of Providence, North Carolina, was wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. Wade was injured and airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Two passengers in Wade's vehicle were transported to Sovah Danville with non-life-threatening injuries.
Virginia State Police charged Wade with the death of Nelson Michael Smith along with multiple additional offenses stemming from the pursuit. The investigation remains ongoing.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/08/05/pursuit-halifax-county-leads-wrong-way-head-on-collision-pittsylvania-county-one-killed/
https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2025/08/05/man-charged-following-police-chase-that-resulted-in-17-year-olds-death-in-halifax-county/
https://wset.com/news/local/virginia-state-police-investigating-halifax-pursuit-which-lead-to-a-crash-and-fatality-pittsylvania-county-alton-willie-devone-wade-nelson-michael-smith-august-2025