A woman who used a wheelchair was struck and killed Thursday evening on Richmond Highway in Fairfax County, according to police. The crash happened around 7:45 p.m. at the intersection of Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Dart Drive in the Hybla Valley neighborhood. First responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The driver of the pickup truck that hit her stayed at the scene and was not injured.
Crash Scene And Ongoing Investigation
Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department's Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to the intersection and closed northbound lanes at Dart Drive while they documented the scene and collected evidence. Authorities have not yet released the victim's name, pending notification of her family. Drivers were told to steer clear of the area while investigators worked, according to FOX 5 DC.
Richmond Highway's Troubling Safety Record
Route 1 through Fairfax County has seen multiple pedestrian deaths this year, and the tally is starting to sound alarm bells for neighbors and officials alike. Local reporting and county leaders have pointed to a recent cluster of deadly crashes. WTOP detailed five people killed in five separate crashes across the county in mid-June, while FFXnow has tracked earlier fatal pedestrian incidents specifically along Richmond Highway.
What Police Want From Witnesses
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the crash, or who has relevant video, to contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit. The Fairfax County Police Department typically takes tips at 703-280-0543 and accepts anonymous information through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477, according to the department's news site. Residents can also register home-security or doorbell cameras with Connect Fairfax County to help detectives piece together what happened. FOX 5 DC reported that crash investigators remained on scene late into the evening as they worked to determine the circumstances of the collision.
Deputy Chief Dalton Becker told reporters that the recent run of traffic deaths in Fairfax County has been unusually concentrated and said officers are pressing drivers to slow down and stay alert near crosswalks and bus stops, according to WTOP. The Fairfax County Police Department has said it will release more information on the Hybla Valley crash as the investigation continues.
