Motorcyclist ID'd in Hampton accident

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - A motorcyclist has died following a crash at the intersection of West Mercury Boulevard and Chestnut Avenue in Hampton Wednesday evening.

Cpl. Jason Price with the Hampton Police Division told WAVY.com the crash occurred just before 5:10 p.m. when a 2011 Kawasaki motorcycle traveling eastbound on West Mercury Boulevard collided with a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix.

The motorcyclist, an adult male, was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Price identified the victim as Jerail Xavier Jones, 20, of Hampton and said the motorcycle's speed was a contributing factor to the crash.

As a result of the crash, police closed West Mercury Boulevard near Roanoke Avenue to all eastbound traffic as they investigated.

Jones' friends and family will be holding a ride in memory of Jones Thursday night at 7 p.m. The ride will start at the RaceWay on Mercury Boulevard near the crash site and continue to Grandview Beach. There, a candlelight vigil will be held in his honor. The public is invited to attend.

Price said the cause of the crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time. Anyone with information that could assisting in the investigation is asked to call the Hampton Police Division at 757-727-6111 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.