Nineteen-year-old Synclair Tyrone Mayes has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash that killed 60-year-old landscaper Guadalupe Rivera along Johnstown Road in Virginia Beach. The charge follows a May 29 collision that investigators say began when Mayes was driving a black Cadillac sedan at a high rate of speed before losing control and striking Rivera as he worked near the roadway.
According to authorities, the crash occurred shortly after 9:45 a.m. near the Kingsbridge Apartments. Investigators said the Cadillac was traveling southbound on Johnstown Road when it collided with a red Honda SUV that was turning onto Johnstown Road from Britwell Drive.
The impact caused the Cadillac to leave the roadway, where it struck Rivera while he was maintaining the lawn along a sidewalk. Rivera suffered fatal injuries and died as a result of the crash.
Mayes and the driver of the Honda SUV were both transported to local hospitals following the collision. Officials reported that both sustained minor injuries.
The death of Rivera prompted calls for charges from family members, who described him as a hardworking man devoted to his family and community. In the days following the crash, loved ones publicly urged authorities to hold the driver accountable.
After reviewing the evidence, investigators charged Mayes with involuntary manslaughter. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly crash.
Rivera’s family has also established a fundraising effort to help cover expenses and celebrate his life and legacy.
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