CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A teenager has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following a crash that killed a landscaper on May 29, according to the Chesapeake Police Department.
Authorities said officers responded at 9:49 a.m. to a serious collision involving a black sedan and a red SUV. The investigation revealed the sedan was speeding southbound on Johnstown Road when it struck the SUV, which was turning onto the roadway from Britwell Drive.
The impact caused the sedan to leave the roadway, fatally hitting 60-year-old Guadalupe Rivera, who was working nearby. Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of both vehicles sustained minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
19-year-old Synclair Tyrone Mayes has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the incident, according to police.
Witnesses reported a growing concern among neighbors about speeding on Johnstown Road. Donald Belew, a resident for 35 years, has initiated a memorial for Rivera, advocating for safer driving in the area. “I just want people to slow down so they can get home to their families,” he stated.
Data from the Virginia Department of Transportation indicates there have been 27 accidents on Johnstown Road between Battlefield Boulevard and Parker Road from 2017 to January 2026, with 13 resulting in injuries. However, only two incidents involved speeding.
Chesapeake Mayor Rick West emphasized the need for increased police presence to deter speeding, acknowledging staffing challenges in the department. “85 percent of our budget is in personnel,” he said.
The Chesapeake Police Department's Crash Reconstruction Team is continuing its investigation into the accident.