breaking news

Another Fire in Hall’s Hill Neighborhood

By ARLnow.com

(Originally published at 7:56 a.m. Updated at 11:05 a.m.) The Arlington Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a blaze at a home on 22nd Street near North Edison Street and Lee Highway.

Authorities say they received the first call about the fire at 6:02 a.m. The flames was extinguished by 6:31 a.m.

Two people were taken to the hospital as a result of the fire, according to Lt. Gregg Karl of the Fire Marshal’s office. No word yet on the extent of their injuries.

Lt. Karl said there was “extensive damage” to the house. The Red Cross is assisting the family that lived in the house find a new place to stay.

In August, firefighters battled a fire at a vacant house on the 2100 block of North Edison Street, just two houses down from the house that caught fire this morning. Fire officials on the scene said that the August fire is still under investigation.

BREAKING NEWS — Pedestrian Struck on Four Mile Run Drive

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 5:30 p.m.) A 15-year-old boy suffered critical injuries when he was struck by a car on the 4500 block of South Four Mile Run Drive, police said Wednesday evening.

The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. The driver of the striking vehicle stayed on the scene, according to police spokesperson Det. Crystal Nosal.

Nosal said police are continuing to investigate the accident. As of 5:30 p.m., the westbound lanes of Four Mile Run Drive had reopened, but the eastbound lanes were still closed.

Based on initial reports from the scene, the victim was said to have been bleeding profusely from the head after he was struck by the black Honda heading eastbound on Four Mile Run Drive. The car’s front windshield appeared to have suffered heavy damage as a result of the collision. A parked car also suffered damage to its rear driver’s side window, apparently as a result of the accident.

A shoe lay across the street from where the victim was struck. A black backpack also could be seen near the point of impact.

Police were seen interviewing a group of school-aged children shortly after the accident occurred.

Update at 5:55 p.m. — All lanes of Four Mile Run Drive are now open.

Update at 9:30 p.m. — Wakefield High School principal Dr. Chris Willmore sent the following letter to parents this afternoon.

Dear Wakefield Parents:

I wanted to inform you about an incident that happened this afternoon. While walking home from school, a Wakefield student was seriously injured when he was hit by a car near the 4500 block of Four Mile Run Drive.

The student was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Parents were notified and are at the hospital with the student.

The Arlington Police Department is investigating the cause of the accident.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 703-228-6700.

Sincerely,

Dr. Chris Willmore
Principal

1/5

BREAKING NEWS — Zimmerman Resigns from Metro Board

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman, who will soon take over as chairman of the county board, has resigned his position as a board member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, according to WTOP’s Adam Tuss.

Zimmerman has represented Arlington on the Metro board since January 1998. He also serves on several other regional transportation boards.

Gordon Linton, a Metro board member representing Montgomery County, also resigned at a board meeting today.

Update at 2:35 p.m. — We have been sent a copy of a letter Zimmerman sent to supporters explaining his surprising and unexpected resignation.

County board member Mary Hynes will be replacing Zimmerman on the Metro board, according to the letter.

Dear Friends:

Today I announced that I will be stepping down from my role as Arlington’s representative on the WMATA Board of Directors. On January 1st I will assume the Chairmanship of the Arlington County Board. In view of those responsibilities, and my desire to give greater focus to some of the needs within my county, I have decided that this is a good time for me to pass on the day-to-day duties of Metro representation.

I want to assure you that my commitment to transit and to Metro is as strong as ever, and I will continue to work for improvements to rail, bus, and paratransit services in our region. I will continue to serve on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (which is the governing body for WMATA in Virginia), as well as on the Transportation Planning Board for the National Capital Region, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

One benefit of this move is that another member will have the opportunity to become immersed in the daily issues involved in the system, increasing the level of direct knowledge about Metro significantly on the Arlington Board. And I am confident that my County will be well-represented, and the region well-served, by the member who will succeed me on the WMATA Board.

My colleague Mary Hynes will take over in January. Mary is an exceptional public official, and she is well-prepared for this role. For the last three years she has served on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, for which she is currently Secretary-Treasurer. Mary has a very personal connection to Metro. For many years, she and her family have lived about a block-and-a-half from the Clarendon Metro station. They have relied upon the system, and seen the changes Metro has brought to the community over the years. Mary is also a very experienced local elected official, having served Arlington since 1995 as a School Board and now a County Board Member. She is known for her responsiveness to constituent’s concerns, and for paying close attention to details. Mary is also highly respected for her command of capital budgeting issues. She will be a strong advocate for riders, and a conscientious steward of the agency.

It has been a great privilege serving on the WMATA Board, and I appreciate all the help and support you have given me over the years in this role. I will be, as I have been, an ardent advocate for Metro, its riders, and the jurisdictions it serves. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you. There is much we need to do for the betterment of public transportation in our region, and for a bright future for Metro.

Thank you.

— Chris Zimmerman

Arlington Man Accused of Making Metro Bomb Threats

By ARLnow.com

The FBI’s terrorism task force has arrested a 25-year-old Arlington man on suspicion of making bomb threats via Facebook.

Awais Younis was taken into custody on Dec. 7. In court documents, he’s accused of threatening to use pipe bombs to blow up a busy section of Georgetown. He’s also accused of threatening to place bombs on Metro trains.

More from TBD, Fox 5 and the Washington Post.

Bank Robbery in South Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Update at 2:40 p.m.) The BB&T Bank at 2947 South Glebe Road was just robbed. According to scanner traffic, a suspect passed a note implying he had a gun, but no weapon was seen.

The suspect is described as a six-foot tall black male in his 30s or 40s with scruffy facial hair. He was wearing a blue jacket, a black backpack and a beanie hat.

Gunston Middle School and Oakridge Elementary School were briefly locked down following the robbery as a precaution.

Tree Brings Down Power Lines in South Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) A large tree fell and brought down power lines on Walter Reed Drive between South Dinwiddie Street and South Wakefield Street.

The falling lines caused power to briefly go out over a wide swath of the county. Power in much of south Arlington and parts of north Arlington flickered on and off for a minute before, in most areas, eventually coming back on.

As of 12:30 a.m., the power was still out in the Fairlington area. At the time, Dominion was reporting that 1,729 customers were without power.

Witnesses say they saw a very bright flash in the sky just before the lights went dark.

Just saw a bright flash of light in South Arlington (we are just north of Arlington Blvd, and saw the light in the sky, resembling lightning, about 10 minutes ago). Our lights flickered on and off, and now we hear fire trucks in that direction… Ironic on a night when Dominion was holding a meeting about adding a new transmission line.

The flash could be seen as far away as Westover.

From a friend’s backyard, directly behind the old Reed school at 19th and Madison, saw an enormous blue green flash in the sky–once, then again. We also heard a low roaring sound, like a very transformer blowing. The flash lit up the entire sky in a color I’ve never seen before, a blue/green like copper sulfate in a flame. My friend, a physicist and amateur astronomer, said he had never seen the like either.

Walter Reed Drive is expected to remain shut down between South Wakefield Street and South Dinwiddie Street “throughout the day” while crews clean up the mess and replace several utility poles. It will likely be closed for the evening rush, we’re told.

As of 12:10 p.m, Dominion reports that 374 customers are still without power in south Arlington.

Photos courtesy Megan Finnerty

Suspicious Package Near County Government Building

By ARLnow.com

Update at 12:30 p.m. — The suitcase has been determined to be safe. The scene is now clear.

Police and firefighters are on the scene of a suspicious piece of luggage, located behind the county government building (2100 Clarendon Blvd) in Courthouse Plaza.

The black suitcase is located in the center of a pedestrian square, near a number of shops and restaurants. The area has been blocked off while the bomb squad examines an X-ray of the package.

BREAKING NEWS — Storm Damage Shuts Down George Mason Drive

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:15 a.m.) A brief but intense thunderstorm ripped through Arlington around 12:45 this morning, bringing with it high winds and driving rain.

A 54 mile per hour wind gust was recorded at Reagan National Airport during the storm, which covered area roadways with wet leaves and, in some cases, trees and utility lines. As of 3:10 a.m., 2,400 Dominion customers were without power in Arlington.

The most significant damage was reported in Arlington’s Tara-Leeway Heights neighborhood, near Virginia Hospital Center. Downed trees and utility lines blocked numerous side streets, which were darkened by the power outage. County tree crews were out in the neighborhood with chainsaws and wood chippers at 2:30 this morning.

A large tree and live power lines also fell across George Mason Drive, next to the hospital. Police have shut down George Mason Drive between Washington Boulevard and 15th Street while Dominion cleans up the mess. The road is expected to remain closed through the morning rush hour.

Storm damage was reported in the following locations:

  • 1600 block of North George Mason Drive
  • 1900 block of North Glebe Road
  • 1400 block of North Greenbrier Street
  • 5500 block of 14th Road North
  • 1300 block of North Illinois Street
  • 1600 block of North Harrison Street
  • 1800 block of South Monroe Street
  • 2900 block of 16th Road South

Update at 9:55 a.m. — The number of Dominion customers without power is now below 300. However, the medical offices of Virginia Hospital Center (not the hospital itself) are among those in the dark. Dominion spokesperson Le-Ha Anderson says crews hope to have power restored there within an hour.

Update at 10:00 a.m. — WJLA meteorologist Adam Caskey says that after analyzing radar data, he believes there’s a slight possibility that a tornado hit part of Arlington.

BREAKING NEWS — Bus Fire on I-395

By ARLnow.com

Firefighters are on the scene of a tour bus fire on southbound I-395, just after the 14th Street Bridge.

Heavy smoke can be seen on traffic cameras.

Only one lane of traffic is getting by the scene. Firefighters report that everybody that was on the bus made it out safely.

Update at 10:40 p.m. — The fire appears to be out.

Update at 10:50 p.m. — A witness, Josh Wright, tells us via Twitter: “[I] saw 40 foot flames coming out the back the bus. Firefighters were on the scene fast and put it out.”

Update at 12:35 a.m. — Wright supplied the video below, shot shortly after the flames were extinguished.

(more…)

BREAKING NEWS — Suspicious Device Detonated in South Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) Bomb disposal crews used a remote-controlled robot to neutralize a suspicious device on 17th Street in Nauck, a block away from the busy intersection of South Glebe Road and Walter Reed Drive.

Explosive specialists determined that the device, which was white, cylindrical and had wires coming out of it, was a hoax, but only after they used an explosive charge to “interrupt” it.

Authorities were first notified of the device, which was placed between two cars on the side of the street, around 10:30 this morning.

The bomb squad arrived “and found what appeared to be an improvised explosive device,” according to Arlington Chief Fire Marshal Benjamin Barksdale. Authorities cordoned off the area and had dispatchers implement a “reverse 911,” which notified residents in the area about the situation and asked them to stay in their homes.

“From there we went through our normal procedures as to identifying exactly what we were dealing with… and from there neutralizing the object,” Barksdale said. Arlington first responders were joined by resources from neighboring jurisdictions, he said.

Barksdale said the last such bomb scare in Arlington happened 3-4 months ago in Crystal City, when a suspicious package was found and neutralized using the same procedures. That device also turned out to be a hoax.

Investigators will now focus on determining who might have been responsible for the device.

“We’ll be talking to people who live on the street to see if they saw anything suspicious, any individuals who don’t live in this neighborhood,” Barksdale said.

Smoke Reported at Pentagon Metro Station

By ARLnow.com

Arlington firefighters are responding to the Pentagon Metro station for smoke in the station.

Initial reports from the scene suggest that leaves and debris on the track caught on fire, causing light smoke to fill the station.

Metro employees extinguished the fire using a powdered fire retardant. Arlington firefighters are now investigating.

Trains are still traveling to and from the station.

View More Stories