Tragic Hit-and-Run Claims Life of Virginia Magazine Editor

A 23-year-old magazine editor in Virginia was killed in a hit-and-run incident while walking in downtown Richmond, according to police reports.

Hope Cartwright, an associate editor at the popular Virginia Living magazine, met a tragic fate on Monday, February 16. John Lawrence Smith, the publisher, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, expressing his sorrow over the loss. He described Cartwright as immensely talented and dedicated, mentioning that she stood on the brink of a promising career.

“Her departure has left an unfillable void,” Smith noted, revealing the deep impact her loss has made on their team.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene around 5:34 p.m. and found Cartwright unresponsive. She was transported to a local hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.

Using traffic camera footage and data from a license plate reader, authorities discovered that a vehicle making a left turn struck her before fleeing the scene. Within an hour, analysts identified the vehicle and its owner, 41-year-old Latesha Coleman.

Coleman has been charged with felony hit-and-run in connection with the incident and is scheduled to appear in court on March 10.

In a related matter, federal prosecutors have urged that Coleman be denied bail due to her extensive criminal history, which includes drug offenses and multiple failures to appear in court dating back to 2002.

Interestingly, during police questioning, Coleman claimed she believed she had only hit the curb, and investigators detected the smell of alcohol. However, prosecutors pointed out there were no curbs at the location where Cartwright was struck. Additionally, it was noted that Coleman was driving with a suspended license.