The city of Richmond is reeling from the tragic loss of 39-year-old Echenique Nicholas A. Ozimisa, who died Tuesday evening, November 4, 2025, in a devastating crash along Interstate 95 near the 37-mile marker in Prince George County. According to Virginia State Police, his 2010 Mazda MZ3 went off the roadway northbound, crossed the median, and collided head-on with a southbound tractor-trailer.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m., when Ozimisa’s vehicle “ran off the left side of the road, entered the median, and crossed into the opposing lanes,” the State Police reported. Despite wearing his seatbelt, Ozimisa was pronounced dead at the scene; the truck driver was uninjured. Investigators are still working to determine the full circumstances.
Ozimisa was much more than a traffic-report name. To his friends, family and wider community, he was a bright, generous person whose laughter lit up rooms and whose readiness to help was known to all. He believed in the power of kindness, and his compassionate spirit became a hallmark of his presence in Richmond.
Those close to him remember spontaneous acts of support and heartfelt encouragement as routine for him — whether offering a hand to someone in need or lending an ear when someone needed to talk. His friendliness and warmth left a lasting impression. He had the kind of quiet strength that inspired people, and his absence is felt deeply.
In the wake of this sudden tragedy, friends and family are gathering to cherish his memory and honour the life he lived. They speak of the way his presence brought people together and of the way he quietly made lives better. Though his time with us was far too short, many agree that his legacy will live on in the stories shared, the memories held, and the many lives he touched.
For Richmond, the loss is personal — a familiar face gone, a community piece missing. In coming days, there will be opportunities for memorial gatherings, vigils and other ways to collectively remember and celebrate Ozimisa’s life, his character and the positive mark he made.
Rest in peace, Echenique Nicholas A. Ozimisa. Your light remains in the hearts of those who loved you, and your memory will continue to shine across Richmond and beyond.