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Local boxing legend, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, dies after being hit by vehicle in Virginia Beach
WTKR ^ | July 15, 2019 | Nick Boykin

Posted on 07/15/2019 8:27:16 AM PDT by C19fan

Norfolk native and boxing legend, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, 55, died Sunday evening after being hit by a vehicle in Virginia Beach near the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road.

A family member confirmed to News 3 that the Olympic gold medal winner and four-weight world champion was killed in the 10 p.m., crash.

Police said the driver of the vehicle that allegedly struck Whitaker stayed at the scene and is cooperating with officers.

(Excerpt) Read more at wtkr.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: boxing; pernell; pernellwhitaker; sweetpea; whitaker
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I saw his fight against Julio César Chávez where he got robbed by the judges of a victory. What a great defensive fighter.
1 posted on 07/15/2019 8:27:16 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: C19fan

He could take a punch, until one day in Virginia Beach.


2 posted on 07/15/2019 8:28:18 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Auto-correct has beco</me my worst enema.)
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To: Old Yeller

This kinda speaks to why I don’t bicycle commute any more. Too dangerous with cell phones and texting. I’m not saying this guy was doing that, but it does cause a lot of this.

I creamed a pedestrian back in 2006, but people need to rembmber that roads are for cars, except at crosswalks. I know it was 2006 because my car was brand new and he dented my hood with his head.


3 posted on 07/15/2019 8:36:10 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: cuban leaf

Did it buff out ok?


4 posted on 07/15/2019 8:37:05 AM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
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To: bigbob

It was a scion xB. I was able to put one of those bug guards on the car and it hid the dent. The guy tried to sue me twice, but the insurance handled it. They made it clear they would not roll over for him and nothing came of it. He was clearly at fault. It’s why I never lost sleep over it. I saw myself as the engineer on a train that plowed into a car trying to beat a signal. i.e. it had nothing to do with me.


5 posted on 07/15/2019 8:39:54 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: C19fan

RIP. That 1984 US Olympic boxing team was something else. Of course no Cubans fought against them but still a pile of gold medals and future world champions.


6 posted on 07/15/2019 8:39:55 AM PDT by lodi90
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To: C19fan

I bike, but rarely after dark, and if it’s dark I have lights and get on the damn sidewalk even though it’s illegal.


7 posted on 07/15/2019 8:40:33 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: cuban leaf

Actually he wasn’t even on a bicycle. He just got killed for crossing the street.


8 posted on 07/15/2019 8:43:54 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: babble-on

He just got killed for crossing the street.


Yeah, that’s what the guy I creamed was doing. Crossing the street. Running. Without looking. BAM!


9 posted on 07/15/2019 8:45:09 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: babble-on

He just got killed for crossing the street.


Go to youtube and search pedestrian crash. Lot of really morbid stuff there. About half are the drivers’ fault, and about half are the pedestrians’ fault. It’s sad to see a woman pull away as a car speeds past her, taking out her baby carriage and the baby flies hundreds of feet.

Those videos have taught me to look both ways, even in a cross walk.


10 posted on 07/15/2019 8:47:16 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: babble-on

Actually he wasn’t even on a bicycle. He just got killed for crossing the street.

...

I notice the article says he was hit near an intersection, not in an intersection. Was he using a crosswalk?


11 posted on 07/15/2019 8:49:19 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Charity comes from wealth.)
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To: cuban leaf

Yes, and a 5 or 6 lane crossing, at night, with people (both peds and drivers) either drunk or texting rather than being attentive, it’s a damn dangerous sport being a pedestrian.

You have to be so careful, and even then, with the light and the crosswalk your way, someone still might blow through.


12 posted on 07/15/2019 8:50:06 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: Moonman62

I don’t know. Was he sober? was the driver? Who had the light? None of that is answered, and may not be known. He’s dead though, for sure.


13 posted on 07/15/2019 8:51:10 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: Moonman62

If you live in or near any large city, can you honestly say that you’ve seen more than five per cent of them actually using crosswalks? Not here in Baltimore.


14 posted on 07/15/2019 8:55:29 AM PDT by VietVet876
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To: C19fan

He certainly was robbed.

15 posted on 07/15/2019 8:56:17 AM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: babble-on

I remind EVERYONE to trust NO ONE when on the road. Whether you are driving, biking, or walking, always anticipate the driver you are looking at is distracted or isn’t seeing you.

People are blowing Stop signs and Red lights in an increasing and alarming way.


16 posted on 07/15/2019 8:57:20 AM PDT by LeonardFMason
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To: babble-on; VietVet876

The police say it was in the intersection. However, Google Maps shows Northampton Road is eight lanes with no crosswalk, so I can guess what happened.

Police press release:

https://www.vbgov.com/news/pages/selected.aspx?release=4412&title=vehicle%2fpedestrian+accident+northampton+boulevard%2fbaker+road


17 posted on 07/15/2019 9:04:52 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Charity comes from wealth.)
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To: babble-on

Bicycles on motorways is insanity. Bicycles on sidewalks makes sense.


18 posted on 07/15/2019 9:06:19 AM PDT by Freedom4US
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To: C19fan

Made it entertaining to watch someone avoid getting hit. He had to have big one’s to know that was his strategy every time he stepped into the ring against bigger, stronger opponents. Saw him live in Vegas in 1992 on a double bill with Riddick Bowe. It was 113 degrees out when I got off the plane.

R.I.P. Pernell.


19 posted on 07/15/2019 9:12:23 AM PDT by bramps (It's the Islam stupid!)
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To: Freedom4US
Looking at that road on google maps street view, I would be terrified to bike on that Northampton Blvd and crossing it at night would be just crazy. Like crossing an interstate highway. It looks like the sidewalk is probably not the kind that would be very busy, so I would be on the sidewalk there, for sure. But in the street view I see a children's "ghost bike" next to a gas station sign. That means a kid got run down and killed there, on the sidewalk, probably crossing Baker at the crosswalk. Every road is different. Where there are a lot of pedestrians, you look for a bike lane. If there's no bike lane and a lot of pedestrians, and a lot of traffic, get off your bike lock it up and walk.
20 posted on 07/15/2019 9:16:49 AM PDT by babble-on
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