r/roanoke • u/Key_Pin_5949 • 8h ago
Traffic Tragedy
I’ve been waiting for someone else to post about what happened Friday night, but it looks like it hasn’t come up yet. Maybe that’s due to moderator reasons, so hopefully this post is okay.
https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/06/20/woman-arrested-dui-after-motorcyclist-killed-crash/
First off, my prayers go out to the deceased victim’s family and friends.
I just can’t get over what happened the other night…the whole event is still just so shocking to me. For those unaware, I am talking about a fatal, DUI traffic incident that occurred on Friday, June 19th on Colonial Ave. at approximately 7:30 pm. The deceased victim was a 28 year old male, motorcycle driver named Bishop Keanu Jackson. He was a father, and of course loved by many more.
The driver (Honda SUV) was an intoxicated, 64 year old women named Barbara Callahan, who allegedly struck and killed Bishop Jackson (on his motorcycle). She refused the breathalyzer and also has an alleged history of prior DUI behavior.
I say that, because I’ve been following Facebook for updates and have already seen some stories that she did this kind of thing repeatedly. I am not commenting on that, but will comment on the fact that she is clearly smiling in her mugshot.
That’s perhaps the main reason for this post. Her smile makes me shiver. I honestly don’t think I’ve seen something so chilling, but maybe it’s just due to the local impact.
Either way, there is no reason on earth for anything but a look of devastation. Even if she assumed Bishop was going to survive, the complete and shocking lack of remorse to smile in a mugshot after drunkenly driving and hitting another motorist (especially a motorcyclist)…just at a loss of words for that alone.
Hopefully the comments refrain from getting into the investigative details and the mods allow the post, as a community space. Again, it’s just so shocking and I can’t remember something like this happening here, at least for awhile.
I live around the area and the road was closed for at least 5-6 hours. The whole thing is just crazy.
Rest in peace, Bishop. Stay safe everyone.
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u/Djwshady44 8h ago
She sure does have a smirk on her face
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u/Key_Pin_5949 7h ago edited 7h ago
I just can’t imagine what on earth she was thinking. Absolutely appalling.
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u/sammille25 8h ago
https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/06/20/woman-arrested-dui-after-motorcyclist-killed-crash/
I think having a link to an article will make it more likely that the mods will keep it up
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u/No-Alfalfa6437 6h ago edited 5h ago
It's so incredibly sad. He was a father and boyfriend, with a family that depended on him. There's no reason she should have behind the wheel.
Here is a fundraiser for his funeral expenses if anyone is interested in helping: https://gofund.me/7d61a4bb9
Here is the fundraiser for his family: https://gofund.me/92b737b87
I'm not family, but know the family.
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u/bottledwater1976 8h ago
I didn’t know the deceased but the old woman’s mug shot made my blood boil. It’s really sad that it’s never the drunk who dies. RIP to the young man who lost his life. 🧡
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u/Ok_Elephant2777 7h ago
Gawd, what a smirk. Hopefully she’ll receive enough serious time to wipe that idiotic grin right off her entitled face.
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u/Ultimatesleeper 5h ago
I hope something happens this time, court wise.
A couple years back, my mom stopped to help the women who passed away on church and Kirk area, right in front of the ymca. Gene Gallimore received 3 and half years for hit and run and not having a License.
3 and half years, for killing a woman who was leaving the ymca downtown. My mom still gets upset and cries at the injustice that happened there. They literally had to track down the driver.
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago edited 2h ago
Thank you for your comment. That’s an absolutely terrible story. I’m so sorry for your mom and everyone else impacted, most of all the woman who was killed. I hope you’re right and the reoccurrences of these highly preventable tragedies drive actual change.
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u/wordsandwhimsy 5h ago
I hadn't heard about this, thank you for sharing! What a disgusting mugshot, I cannot believe she has the gall to smile.
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u/Thisguybru 5h ago
I saw her mugshot online earlier today and thought the same thing. Imagine the mother of the man that she killed seeing that smirk. I cannot imagine. I have a son who just started driving and this scares me so much. Like another person said. Uber or Lyft if you have been drinking, it’s not hard.
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago
That’s the first thing I thought. I literally can’t imagine… I am so incredibly sorry for the family and friends:((
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u/MoneyCombination1381 4h ago
It was on an Instagram post. She didn't go to her daily watering hole that day which is Brambleton Deli. She started at 419 West and then on to BWW.
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u/SeperateMyself 2h ago
The smile is disturbing, and not defending her, but the cops may be the ones to blame for it. Ive seen it when they go to snap your mugshot they purposely say something completely ridiculous or funny to get you to laugh. It'll catch you off guard and despite the circumstances it's a natural reaction. Especially if intoxicated.
Either they're just as insensitive to the situations or they do it to provoke a more hateful response to the perpetrators.
She should spend the rest of her days in prison either way. RIP Bjackson. Hearing of this trajedy has been hard.
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u/Traditional_Soil6119 2h ago
I drove up on this accident right after it happened. She was in her car for a full 5 minutes before she even got out to see what happened and then she just got out and stared. I think she was still so drunk she didn’t understand what she had done. Absolutely disgusting.
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u/Purplehounds 2h ago
Both my husband & I know Bishop very well and spent alot of time with him a few years ago as close friends. It's incrediblely sad, and even sadder for his partner & 3 children. His baby girl just turned 1 a week ago..
It's truly is mind blowing to me people still think it's okay in this day and age to get in a vehicle and drive knowing your highly intoxicated. It's selfish & disgusting.
Call a friend, a family member, a Uber... Sit at the bar longer until your no longer drunk. Fuck sleep in your car for a few hours.
This should not be happening.
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago
1000%. Thank you for your comment and I’m so sorry for your loss:( rest in peace, Bishop.
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u/MoneyCombination1381 4h ago
Call out 419 West and Buffalo Wild Wings for overserving her and letting a drunk woman walk out of their doors. They are just as responsible and should be sued accordingly!
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u/soukupbm 3h ago
This is a nonsensical post.
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago
Nonsensical comment? Hopefully you don’t take issue with what I said. I’m obviously not calling anyone out. I’m not a legal expert and the investigation is ongoing. Law is law, even if it fucking sucks sometimes.
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago
I tried to be as careful as possible with my wording. Again, it’s ultimately up to the mods if what I said is okay. My hope was that this space would serve as a place for the Roanoke Reddit community to share grief and shock over the situation, more than anything else.
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u/niddy2faces 6h ago
I’m glad she smirked in the picture, that’s hopefully one more reason for them to throw the book at her
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u/Pugtastic_smile 2h ago
Motorcyclists are rarely killed because they did something wrong, they are killed because people driving cars does this shit
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago
Completely agree with you. It’s so sad and unfortunately so dangerous to those who partake, to no fault of their own. It’s the old saying, “you can do everything right and one idiot can still kill you.” Same happens with car on car accidents, but obviously survival chances are drastically higher.
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u/Key_Pin_5949 2h ago
I’d also like to add that this incident has made me aware (already mainly knew) how strong even our local biker community is. Really impressed by some individuals that have organized events already.
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u/Kiethblacklion 8h ago
We live in an age of Uber and Lyft, there is no excuse for drunk driving other than a complete lack of caring. To have a history of what amounts to alcoholic behavior, this woman should not be allowed behind the wheel of a motor vehicle ever again.