Local reporter dies in single-car crash

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06:14 PM EDT on Friday, May 14, 2004

By Dottie Wikan, WVEC.com

A single-car crash early Friday claimed the life of a reporter for the Virginian-Pilot and the Pilot-13News broadcast LNC-5.

Andy Franklin, 13News Danielle Roach was killed when her car crashed into a tree on Shore Drive.

26-year-old Danielle Renee Roach was killed about 1:00 a.m. when her 1995 Volvo crashed into a tree in the 1600 block of Shore Drive. Police said she was going too fast, lost control and went into a spin on Shore Drive, a mile west of Atlantic Ave. Her car ended up backwards in the median trip and a tree went through it.

The accident remains under investigation. Police don't believe any other vehicle was involved.

Police said someone passing by the scene called 911, but that person didn't witness the crash.

A sign on that road warns that 77 people have died on Shore Drive since 1977. Much of the strip is in a commercial district, but there's a stretch by Fort Story near the oceanfront that is a straightaway and has no lights.

Danielle recently donated a kidney to her mother. Six months ago, she became a volunteer for LifeNet, a local agency that promotes organ donor awareness.

13News Danielle Roach reported on the local sports scene for LNC-5.

According to 13News' Partners at the Virginian Pilot, Roach was a 1995 graduate of Churchland High School in Portsmouth. She majored in English at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1999.

After graduation, Roach apprenticed for several years as a harbor pilot before deciding to switch to journalism.

She began her newspaper career working as a freelance writer for several of The Pilot’s city tabs.

She joined the newspaper in April 2003 and covered public safety and general assignment on nights and weekends.

She started her career as an intern at WVEC-TV 13. Recently, she reported on the local sports scene with a segment called Varsity Buzz on LNC-5.

Danielle will be remembered at a celebration of life this Sunday, May 16, from 4 - 6 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home in Smithfield.

On Monday, there'll be a memorial service at 1 p.m. at Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Norfolk. Following that, she'll be laid to rest at Historic St. Luke's Cemetery in Smithfield.