NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Family, friends, and church members gathered at the Parkview Baptist Church for a vigil for the Smith family.
Michael Smith, 50, a deacon and Sunday school teacher at the church, was killed Thursday in a two-vehicle crash on I-664 near the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel.
According to Virginia State Police, a 2006 Dodge Charger driven by 32-year-old Roger Yates was traveling south on I-664 around 11:15 p.m.
Roger Lee Yates
When Yates changed lanes, he hit a 2011 Honda Pilot driven by Smith.
The impact of the crash caused Smith to run off the left side of the road, hit the Jersey wall, and overturn several times.
Smith died at the scene.
Smith's wife, Sharolyn,, and three kids, 20-year-old Jacob, 18-year-old Adam, and 14-year-old Hannah were also in the car and were taken to the hospital.
According to Pastor Rusty Beck, Adam was released from the hospital, and Sharolyn is expected to be out of the hospital within a few days.
He says Hannah is recovering from a serious foot injury, but is expected to be OK.
However, Jacob, is fighting for his life.
Photo courtesy: The Smith family
"It's the time of miracles, Christmas is that time of the year, and that's what we're praying for tonight, is a miracle," says Pastor Beck. "We're a very close church family and we're all affected by this. Those kids were all raised in this church, raised with my kids, so we're very, very close."
"Please don't leave here and stop prayers, we need them continuously," says Mike's brother, John.
Yates was not injured. He was arrested for DUI and charged with DUI refusal, DUI maiming, and reckless driving.
The crash remains under investigation.
