A new mom celebrating her first night out since the birth of her baby daughter was struck and killed after allegedly being kicked out of an Uber on a busy highway.
Vanessa Schwartz, 35, was on her way home from an evening with her husband Michael, a systems engineer, when she was hit while walking along Interstate-495 in Fairfax County, Virginia at 4am on Sunday.
Her devastated family have laid the blame on the Uber driver, who has been suspended amid an investigation by Uber but has not been charged, as her brother-in-law said it was a ‘preventable situation.’
However, Virginia state police told NBC4 that there is ‘no evidence’ she was abandoned on the highway, and ‘it appears she made her way to the interstate from a secondary roadway.’
Vanessa Schwartz, 35, was struck and killed at 4am Sunday on I-495 in Virginia after her first night out since the birth of he daughter Lucy eight months ago
The young mother was described as ‘a beautiful young woman who lived her life completely dedicated to her 8-month old daughter’ and her husband Michael (pictured together)
Investigations into the young mother’s death are still ongoing, with witnesses reportedly telling police she had ‘stumbled’ into traffic, reports WUSA-9.
The outlet also claimed that a preliminary investigation found the 2005 Honda Accord that struck Schwartz was unable to avoid hitting her.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
It remains unclear why Schwartz was on the highway, as NBC4 obtained unverified Uber receipts from her family that showed her ride came to an end either on the highway, or very close to it.
Although cops say she may not have been left on the highway, Schwartz’ grief-stricken family have accused the Uber driver of causing the tragedy.
The driver, who has not been criminally charged, was said to have kicked the couple out of his car and onto the highway, despite it being ‘dark and raining.’
Chad Schwartz, the victim’s brother-in-law, said: ‘This was a preventable situation… that’s why this is so devastating. It didn’t have to happen.’
‘We’re not exactly sure what happened, but they were kicked out of the Uber in the middle of the highway, when it was raining and dark,’ he added.
Uber receipts allegedly showed she was dropped off either on or very close to the highway (seen on a Google Street View)
It remains unclear why Schwartz was on the highway, as cops said three days after the tragedy there is ‘no evidence’ she was abandoned on the road, and ‘it appears she made her way to the interstate from a secondary roadway’
Chad Schwartz, the victim’s brother-in-law, said the death is all the more devastating because it was a ‘preventable situation’
Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The company reportedly suspended the driver and removed his access to their app while the investigation continues.
In a statement, Uber said, ‘Our hearts break for Mrs. Shwartz’ family’, and it is ‘supporting law enforcement with their investigation’ as it continues to look into how the accident unfolded.
Cops said in an update on Wednesday, three days after the death, that ‘at this time, there is no evidence to indicate she was dropped off or left along I-495.
‘Instead, it appears she made her way to the interstate from a secondary roadway.’
Tributes have poured in for the young mom, as a GoFundMe to help her family pay for the funeral and to help her eight-month-old child has surpassed $38,000.
‘Vanessa was a beautiful young woman who lived her life completely dedicated to her 8-month old daughter Luciana (Lucy), her husband Michael, and her two parents Luisa and Jose,’ the fundraiser read.
‘She was a sweet, generous, loving, and caring woman whose life was cut short by the negligence of a driver for what was supposed to be a safe ride home.’
‘Vanessa was one of the kindest souls on this earth. Gracious, funny, and full of life. May Lucy carry on all the goodness that was Vanessa,’ one donator said.
Another said: ‘I’ve known Vanessa for 10 years at work and she was always kind, helpful, and had a beautiful smile.’
A relative added: ‘Vanessa, you were the kindest, sweetest soul I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and calling my cousin. The world is not the same without you, but you have left your mark. Thank you for the sweet memories.’