Viktoria Vasiliye Melnik was walking along the northbound lane of Highway 357 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina (SC) when her life came to a tragic end. A 1980 Ford pickup truck, driven by Gary Watson, hit Viktoria and killed her, according to wpsa.com. She was just 19 years old.
My deepest condolences go out to Ms. Melnik’s friends and family. Accidents of this nature are always terrible, but it’s even worse when someone so young is taken from us far too soon.
This fatal accident highlights the importance of well-lit, properly designated pedestrian walking lanes on highways. Many highways lack quality pedestrian walkways forcing people to put their lives in danger by walking on the side of the road and in the pathway of vehicles.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
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Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
5 Comments
sarra kuzmenko
November 1st, Viktoria Melnik got taken away by the lords angels.. She was so young, now shes in God's hands. She was a very bright and positive side Cousin. I Love Her.
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
I'm so very sorry for your loss Sarra. I know this is a difficult moment, but stay strong and reflect on all the fond memories you have of Viktoria.
Please send my sympathies to the rest of the family.
Question
What was a 19 year old girl doing at 1:15am walking on a highway so far away from home? Where's the parents supervision? Where's the common sense?
Viktoriya Kuzmenko
When I will once again visit south carolina like i do every year with my family, it will never be the same. This tragic event effected my whole family as she was a dear cousin of mine. This is a reminder to all. Life can be taken away any instant. We must always be ready for eternity. To those who are are lost and confused, grasp onto every chance life gives you, to make a difference.
Jesus is our only HOPE! The Melnik family will stay in my prayers! Stay strong! God Bless!
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
“What was a 19 year old girl doing at 1:15am walking on a highway so far away from home? Where's the parents supervision? Where's the common sense?”
I believe the question of why Ms. Melnik was walking along Highway 357 will be answered as the investigation continues. However, I don’t think it’s fair to presume a lack of parental supervision or judgment in this situation. Keep in mind, Ms. Melnik was 19, so she was technically a legal adult and therefore exempt from any curfew laws in South Carolina. We need to wait until all the facts come in.
Also, young people who cannot afford a car are sometimes forced to walk places. A motorist is not free to hit and harm a pedestrian. The driver has to be ready to avoid running into deer, bicyclists, and other things on or near the road. The blame is not on the woman who was within her rights to share the road.
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