CHAPTER 650
An Act for the relief of Mrs. Gladys C. Gilley.

Approved April 7, 1954

Whereas, on November 14, 1953, Edwin A. Gilley was riding in an
automobile on Route 5, and between 5:35 A. M. and 5:45 A. M. such auto-
mobile entered upon the eastern approach to the open draw span of
Barret’s Ferry Bridge over the Chickahominy River; and

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Whereas, unknown to the passengers in such automobile, the draw
span on such bridge was open and there were no warning lights to advise
travelers that such span was open; and

Whereas, such automobile, together. with the passengers therein,
without negligence on the part of any of them or the driver, drove off
the bridge through the open draw span and plunged into the water, drown-
ing all of the passengers, among them being Edwin A. Gilley; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gladys C. Gilley of Williamsburg, the widow of Edwin
A. Gilley, through the negligence or failure to use due care on the part
of the Virginia Department of Highways by placing warning devices or
using an interlocking warning system connected with the span opening
mechanism, has sustained a grievous loss in the death of her husband,
Edwin A. Gilley, and she is without remedy at law to compensate her for
the loss of her hushand; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. There is hereby appropriated out of the special revenues in the State
Treasury available for the maintenance and construction of the primary
system of State highways the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars as com-
pensation for the loss which Mrs. Gladys C. Gilley and other survivors
under § 8-636 have sustained, to be paid on warrant of the Comptroller
drawn on the State Treasurer, as provided by law, into the Circuit Court
for the city of Williamsburg and county of James City for distribution
hereinafter provided.

First, the Court shall direct the payment of all proper court costs
incident to such distribution. The Court shall then direct in what pro-
portion the remainder shall be distributed to the surviving wife, Mrs.
Gladys C. Gilley, and children and grandchildren of the deceased. Among
the distributees the Court shall have absolute discretion as to who shall
receive the whole or any part of such remainder. In determining the
share of the distributees, however, the Court shall give due consideration
to all reasonable and proper funeral expenses incident to the death of
Edwin A. Gilley which have been paid or advanced by any such distributee.