Man Charged with DUI After Crash That Killed 79‑Year‑Old New Jersey Woman in Washington D.C.

Virginia “Ginnie” Voight, a beloved 79‑year‑old former teacher from Palmyra, New Jersey, never imagined her Sunday evening would end in tragedy. On the night of July 5, 2026, she was cruising east on her electric mobility scooter, using the crosswalk at 14th Street and Independence Avenue in southwest Washington, D.C., when a car slammed into her.

The driver, later identified as 55‑year‑old Michael Wayne Mills of Germantown, Maryland, fled the scene. By the time officers arrived, the scooter was a twisted heap and Voight was gravely injured. She was rushed to a hospital, where she clung to life for a week before passing away on July 12, 2026.

Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, specifically the Major Crash Investigation Unit, launched a swift investigation. A member of the National Guard actually detained Mills on the street until detectives could take him into custody. The authorities now charge him with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and leaving the scene of a collision. Prosecutors have hinted that more charges could follow as the case develops.

Friends and family gathered at Harbor Baptist Church in Hainesport Township, New Jersey, to celebrate Voight’s life—a life that spanned more than three decades in the Palmyra School District, where she was known for her gentle patience and fierce dedication to students.

If anyone has additional information about the crash, the Metropolitan Police Department asks that they call the tip line at 202‑727‑9099. The community hopes that holding Mills accountable will bring a measure of closure to a family whose loss feels all too sudden.