VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The past 10 months haven’t been easy for Ebony Boone.
“It’s really hard because right here is where our life began, and again, because of someone’s careless act, he’s gone and he’s not coming back,” Ebony Boone said.
10 On Your Side talked with her at the very place she and her late husband Craig Boone were married in 2021, enjoying two years as husband and wife before his life was suddenly cut short.
“My husband was killed, and at that point I felt like I died too,” she said.
Last October, Boone was working as a VDOT safety service patroller, helping a motorist on I-64 in Hampton along the right shoulder when Alana Diomande, of Yorktown, allegedly ran off the road and sideswiped Boone’s VDOT truck. Boone was killed on impact. Organizations like Drive Safe Hampton Roads say these crashes are happening too often.
“These types of crashes are 100% preventable,” said Jim McElligott of Drive Safe Hampton Roads.
He said there are many resources to keep anyone from driving drunk.
“Take the keys from them and explain to them, educate them why they shouldn’t be driving,” McElligott said.
The organization also has three main committees that include occupant protection, impaired driving prevention, and specialized transportation safety.
On nine major holidays, they even offer 757 Sober Rides. During this campaign, area residents aged 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download the Lyft app to their phones, then enter the 757 Sober Ride code in the app’s “payment” tab (under the “add lyft pass” option) to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. The code will only work if used during the above-stated timeframes for rides originating from or having a destination within Hampton Roads.
Those are steps Boone’s family wishes could’ve been taken in his case. His friends and family are eager to see the outcome of this case in court Thursday. Alana Diamonde has entered a guilty plea. She will be sentenced Thursday.
“I’m hoping that justice is served,” Crystal Artist said.
