News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 16, 2026
Local News
Crash at railroad crossing in Charles City claims life of one
One person has died in Charles City as the result of a car crash into a passenger train on Sept. 7. Virginia State Police and Charles City Sheriff’s Office responded to the railroad tracks on Roxbury Road (Route 106) near the Barnetts Road intersection shortly after 5 p.m. According to the Virginia State Police report, a 2008 Lexus ES350 was traveling northbound on Roxbury Road when it encountered a railroad crossing with the gates and signals engaged. The Lexus drove around the gate arms and was struck by a westbound Amtrak Train. The driver of the Lexus, George H. Haupt…
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Colonial Heights’ man convicted of forging name on public documents in Charles City
A Colonial Heights man who identified himself falsely to law enforcement officers in Charles City has been found guilty on two felonies and one misdemeanor. Rodney Dean Bowman Jr., 28, of the 300 block of Moorman Avenue, was found guilty on one charge each of forgery of a public record, uttering, and misdemeanor identifying himself falsely to an officer as part of a Tuesday afternoon contested trial in Charles City County Circuit Court. He was found not guilty on one count of misdemeanor having a fake identification card, while an additional charge of misdemeanor receiving of stolen goods was dropped….
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New Kent, Cox Communications announce $34 million partnership to expand internet services
New Kent County has announced a $34 million expansion partnership with Cox Communications. The Sept. 6 press release indicates that the investment aims to bring 100 percent fiber-optic network to every home and business in New Kent County. “As the fastest growing locality in Virginia, expanding broadband access is a top priority for the leaders of New Kent County,” said District 1 Supervisor and New Kent Chairman Thomas Evelyn. “This is a major step forward and the partnership with Cox will help ensure that our community thrives well into the future.” Phase One of the building will enable 3,000 residents…
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Quinton Elementary School primed for welcoming students to school on Sept. 6
After several discussions, years of planning, and a delayed opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinton Elementary School is ready to open to students and teachers in the western portion of New Kent County. A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony took place on Sept. 1 in front of the school’s main entrance with more than 100 people in attendance. Talks about a new elementary school began in 2014, when projects from Welden-Cooper expected a boom in New Kent County when it came to student-population. Not only did that number boom, but it exceeded it to the point where the locality became…
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Charles City leaders weigh pros, cons of bike races within county borders
Charles City supervisors continue to find ways to compromise having bike races and satisfying county citizens. A Tuesday night special called meeting continued to investigate a means of finding a solution on an issue that has lasted for several years. The forum saw more than 40 people come out to the meeting, with 19 of them stepping up to the podium to address the issue. Several citizens of the county have spoken out about local roads being used for bike races. While the main course is conducted in Charles City, many of the home bases for these events are housed…
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New Kent teen dies in early morning crash in Henrico
Two people, including a New Kent teenager, has died as the result of an accident in Henrico County. According to a Virginia State Police report, shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday morning (Aug. 27), a Jaguar traveling westbound on Interstate 64 struck a westbound Lexus at the 196-mile marker. A westbound Honda Civic then struck the Jaguar, causing the Jaguar and Lexus to collide again. The Jaguar ended up running off the interstate and overturned in the woods. The driver of the Jaguar, Rodney Fowler, 45, of Henrico, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The driver of the Honda, a…
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Hopewell woman dies after crash in Charles City County
A Hopewell woman has died as the result of an accident in Charles City County. Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 1:09 a.m. on Aug. 23 at the intersection of Roxbury Road (Route 106) and Wayside Road (Route 607) in Charles City. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2010 Ford Focus was traveling west on Wayside Road when it failed to stop at a sign and could not avoid striking a 2002 Ford Explorer in the passenger side that was traveling north on Roxbury Road. The impact caused the Explorer to overturn. The driver of the Explorer,…
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Yorktown man enters guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter after high speed chase in New Kent leads to death of passenger
A Yorktown teenager who led a pursuit in New Kent County that resulted in the death of his passenger entered a guilty plea to three charges including involuntary manslaughter. Jahreese Watson-Ricks, 19, of the 500 block of Arabian Circle, entered guilty pleas to one count each of involuntary manslaughter, felony destruction of property, and felony eluding as part of a plea agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth Attorney Scott Renick, on Oct. 24, 2021, around 12:45 a.m., a Virginia State Trooper noticed a Sedan traveling over 100…
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New Kent County Public Schools expected to be fully accredited
New Kent County Public Schools are expected to be fully accredited as they begin the 2022-23 school year. Executive director of innovation and management Ross Miller spoke at Monday’s New Kent School Board work session and provided preliminary information regarding accreditation. According to Miller, all four schools are expected to be fully accredited with official information is released next month. Miller said that accreditation criteria for this past year include academic achievement in English, closing the achievement gap in English, academic achievement in mathematics, closing the achievement gap in mathematics, academic achievement in science, and chronic absenteeism. He added that…
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Lancaster man handed three years for possession of illegal drugs, gun in New Kent
A Lancaster man who eluded a Virginia State Trooper during a chase in New Kent County will spend the next three years in prison after entering a no contest plea as part of Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Ralph Antonio Waller Jr., 22, of the 100 block of Reynolds Farm Road, entered no contest pleas to one count each of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a Schedule I/II substance with intent to distribute, possession of a gun while in possession of a Schedule I/II substance, and felony eluding of police as part of…
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