Family mourns father of nine killed by drunk driver in Virginia – NBC4 Washington

Grieving family and friends hope to learn more details about the accident that killed Lucius “Tyrone” Gaskins, a father of nine and grandfather of two grandchildren, on a sidewalk near the Huntington Metro station in Virginia last week.

His mother, Rowena Coleman, said Gaskins moved back in with her a few years ago to help with care.

“He cooked, he cleaned,” she said. “He went shopping for me. He did all that.”

Michael Rambudhan, 38, of Woodridge was driving while intoxicated after midnight Friday when he lost control of his SUV and first struck the median of the sidewalk, where Gaskins, 54, was struck, police said. He then drove through the grass and struck a tree, which fell, police said.

At the spot where the vehicle had overturned, parts of the SUV were scattered on the ground.

Gaskins died at the scene of the accident.

On Friday morning, Fairfax County police showed up at his mother’s doorstep to give her the devastating news that her only living child had been killed. Her other son died in 2016.

Friend says victim’s backpack and keys were left at crime scene

Shirley Redfear, a longtime friend, said she was emotionally devastated after hearing the news.

“I was numb, I was hurt,” Redfear said. “I just couldn’t believe I was hearing that while he was losing his life like that.”

Despite her sadness, she went to the crime scene to find out more details about the incident.

“I wanted to go to the place where he took his last breath,” Redfear said.

Redfear and others want to know if Gaskins might have been riding a scooter that was found near the crime scene. She was surprised that his backpack and keys were left behind and not taken by investigators. Redfear believes all the evidence should have been collected there.

Rambudhan was charged with drunk driving and refusing to take a breathalyzer test. He is being held without bail.

“I think he should pay for whatever he did,” Coleman said. “He took something from me, I’m telling you that.”

Investigators are currently considering whether to pursue more serious charges against the driver.