On the evening of January 18, 2026, a fatal collision involving an electric scooter occurred at the busy intersection of Midlothian Turnpike (Route 60) and Branchway Road in Chesterfield County, Virginia, near the Chesterfield Towne Center shopping area.
Around 9:22 p.m., 25-year-old Angelica Vargas Pita was riding her electric scooter eastbound in the travel lanes of Midlothian Turnpike when a vehicle, also traveling in the same direction, struck her from behind. The impact threw her from the scooter, leaving her critically injured in the roadway amid ongoing traffic.
Chesterfield County Police Department officers responded promptly to the scene at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike and Branchway Road, finding Vargas Pita lying in the travel lanes with severe injuries. First responders, including police and emergency medical personnel, provided immediate aid on site, stabilizing her as much as possible before transporting her to a nearby hospital. Despite these efforts, she succumbed to her life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the medical facility shortly after arrival.
Angelica Vargas Pita resided in the 900 block of Branchway Road, placing her home in close proximity to the crash site and suggesting she may have been traveling a familiar local route that evening. The preliminary investigation indicates both the scooter and the vehicle were operating within the active travel lanes at the time of the collision, with no immediate evidence of improper lane usage by the driver reported.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated fully with arriving officers, providing statements that aided the initial response. No charges have been filed as of the latest updates, with Chesterfield County Police emphasizing that the crash reconstruction process is ongoing to determine exact contributing factors, such as speed, visibility under nighttime conditions, or potential distractions.
Authorities closed portions of the intersection temporarily to facilitate evidence collection, including measurements, photographs, and witness interviews from nearby businesses or passing motorists. The department has appealed for additional information, urging anyone who witnessed the incident at Midlothian Turnpike and Branchway Road around 9:22 p.m. on January 18, 2026, or possesses dashcam footage to contact investigators or Crime Solvers anonymously.
This tragic event at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike (Route 60) and Branchway Road, Chesterfield County, Virginia, underscores the risks associated with alternative modes of transportation like electric scooters on high-traffic arterial roads. The loss of Angelica Vargas Pita at age 25 has left a profound impact on her family and the local community, as the investigation continues to seek full clarity on the circumstances.
