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Gregory B. Bruington, Jr., of Newport News, was in the shoulder of the westbound lanes at mile marker 175 in Fairfax, when he was struck by Carlos L. Nunez Morales, 26, of Woodbridge, just before 3:40 a.m. Sunday, March 30, Virginia State Police said.
Bruington died at the scene and the passenger in his VW Golf, Hailey Frazier, 24, was seriously injured, police said. Frazier was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Morales, who was operating a 2003 Dodge Ram and not wearing a seatbelt, was charged with driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, and driving with a suspended or revoked license. He suffered minor injuries.
Bruington's obituary says he served 12 years in the U.S. National Guard and had been working as a military contractor giving IT support throughout the US government.
"Gregory was an entrepreneur, artist, and social media influencer," his obituary says. "He was always calm, rational, and understanding. He was known by his loving Mother as her Gentle Giant."
A GoFundMe launched for Frazier said she and Bruington were a longtime couple.
"Hailey, who was sleeping in the car, broke her neck and fractured her back in multiple places, and was rushed to the hospital," reads the campaign launched by Olivia Di Vincenzo."
"Hailey is grieving the loss of her forever person. A loss I can't fathom, as I imagine many of us can't come close to understanding the heartbreak this brings her."
The crash remains under investigation.
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