breaking news

BREAKING NEWS — Train Fire Near Potomac Yard

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:40 a.m.) A fire aboard a CSX locomotive near Potomac Yard is out, but Amtrak trains may be slightly delayed while crews work to clear the scene.

All CSX and Amtrak trains that use the tracks were temporarily halted while firefighters worked to put out the fire. Train traffic is now being allowed through again on two of the three tracks that run through the area.

Arlington Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Ed Hughes said there was a “minor smoldering fire” in the train’s engine compartment, caused by overheated bearings. The fire was extinguished quickly and the train will be moved shortly, Hughes said. Amtrak trains may experience minor delays, he said.

Blue and Yellow Line Metro trains that run on nearby tracks were apparently not affected.

Man Arrested in Plot to Bomb Arlington Metro Stations

By ARLnow.com

A 34-year-old man from Ashburn has been arrested by the FBI, accused of plotting to bomb four Arlington Metro stations.

Feds say Farooque Ahmed thought he was assisting members of al-Qaeda by providing sketches, photos and videos of the Pentagon City, Courthouse, Arlington Cemetery and Crystal City stations. According to prosecutors, he also observed and detailed security procedures in the stations for his handlers, who he believed to be affiliated with the terror organization.

Ahmed collected the information “with the intent to plan and assist in planning multiple bombings to cause mass casualties at Metrorail stations,” the indictment reads.

His goal, according to the indictment, was “to kill as many military personnel as possible.”

Read the full indictment and see more details about Ahmed’s life from TBD and the Washington Post.

Flickr pool photo by Mattron.

Bicyclist Struck on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

A bicyclist was struck by a car on Columbia Pike near the intersection with South Jefferson Street around 11:30 this morning.

The cyclist, who was reportedly alert and conscious after the accident, is being transported to a local hospital.

The fire department temporarily shut down the westbound lanes of Columbia Pike while treating the victim.

No word on the extent of the cyclist’s injuries or whether charges will be filed against the driver.

BREAKING NEWS — Shots Fired At Pentagon, Lanes Closed

By ARLnow.com

Traffic on southbound I-395 is being diverted onto southbound Route 1, just before the Pentagon, causing big backups. We’re told Pentagon police are investigating some sort of an incident that occurred last night.

Update at 9:20 a.m. — In the comments section, FREDTERP has what is very likely the subject of the investigation: an unconfirmed report of shots fired near the Pentagon early this morning. We’re still awaiting comment from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.

Update at 9:40 a.m. — Southbound I-395 has reopened, but now northbound I-395 is being diverted at Washington Boulevard.

Update at 9:55 a.m. — Traffic on northbound I-395 is backing up past Seminary Road.

Update at 10:00 a.m. — The mainline of northbound I-395 is back open.

Update at 10:25 a.m. — The northbound HOV lanes are closed. Cars in the HOV lanes before the closure are essentially trapped, although a number of vehicles are escaping the backup by going the wrong way up a ramp near Shirlington.

Update at 10:35 a.m. — NBC4 is reporting that at least two bullets hit the Pentagon this morning.

Update at 10:55 a.m. — The HOV lanes on I-395 are back open.

Update at 12:25 p.m. — “What we have is an isolated incident, so far,” a Pentagon official says at a news conference. There has been speculation about a possible connection to shots fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. over the weekend.

Arlington School Bus Hits Elderly Woman

By ARLnow.com

Update at 12:25 p.m. on 10/19 — The victim, 89-year-old Louise Gabel of Falls Church, died last night. Police are still investigating the incident. So far, no charges have been filed against the bus driver.

An elderly woman is in critical condition after being struck by an Arlington County school bus.

It happened at 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Carlin Springs Road and 8th Road South. Police say the woman was crossing the intersection when she was struck. She’s currently in critical condition at a local hospital.

Twelve children were on board the bus at the time of the accident, police said. They were not injured.

“The accident is still under investigation, and more details will be released when available,” police said in a statement. The school system is planning to release a statement letter to parents regarding the accident later today, according to Arlington Public Schools spokesperson Frank Bellavia.

The bus has been impounded by police pending the investigation.

Flickr pool photo by afagen

Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Route 50

By ARLnow.com

A motorcyclist died after a violent collision with a car on Route 50 Friday night.

The accident occurred just after 9:00 p.m. at the intersection of Route 50 and Irving Street. The car, a Nissan, collided with the motorcycle in the intersection, police said. The motorcyclist was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the car remained on scene.

Police say the accident is under investigation. So far, no charges have been filed. The name of the motorcyclist is being withheld while police notify his next of kin.

The accident scene told the story of a horrific collision. Parts of the motorcycle were spread across the eastbound lanes of Route 50. The car’s front end was badly damaged, the airbags were deployed, and the front windshield was shattered. A single black leather cowboy-style boot lay upright near the side of the road.

The wreck shut down the eastbound lanes of Route 50 for several hours as investigators took photos and tried to figure out how the accident happened.

One man who lived nearby said he heard the accident from his house and walked to the scene to see what had happened. He said there have been at least three other accidents at the intersection in recent memory.

Update on 10/17: The driver is expected to be charged with DWI and manslaughter, sources tell ARLnow.com. The accident happened when the victim was heading eastbound and the suspect was turning from the westbound lanes, we’re told.

Police say they expect to release more information about the crash on Monday.

Update on 10/18: The suspect has been charged with manslaughter, and the victim has been identified. The possible DWI charge, mentioned above, has not materialized yet. But police tell us they’re still investigating whether alcohol could have played a factor in the accident.

From a police news release:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred on Friday, October 15, 2010, at Arlington Boulevard (Route 50) and Irving Street.  At approximately 9:09 P.M., a vehicle collided with a motorcycle in the intersection.

The driver of the motorcycle was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He has been identified as Gerald Glasper, 42, of Arlington.

The striking vehicle remained on scene. Jonathan Mendez, 25, of Washington D.C. charged with Manslaughter later that evening. He was held at the Arlington County Detention Center without bond.

The accident is still under investigation. Arlington County Police ask that anyone who witnessed the accident or has information relating to this incident call Detective Tamara Celestini at (703) 228-4164.

BREAKING NEWS — Jorge Torrez Found Guilty

By ARLnow.com

An Arlington jury has found former Marine Jorge “George” Torrez guilty of rape and 13 other charges.

From an Arlington County Police Department news release:

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Arlington County Police Department announces the judgment rendered on Jorge Torrez on October 15, 2010.  He was arrested in February 2010 as the suspect in an attempted abduction case. He was later linked to an abduction and rape case that also occurred in February.

In the early hours of February 10, 2010, a woman was walking in the 1700 block of N. Quincy Street when a man displaying a handgun approached her. The man indicated that he wanted the victim to get into a car, but the victim resisted. The victim was ultimately told to give the suspect her purse, which she did, and he fled.

On February 27, 2010, around 4 a.m., police responded to the 600 block of North Wakefield Street for a call about an abduction. Two young women were walking to a residence when a man confronted them with a handgun. The suspect forced them inside the house where he restrained them. The suspect then forced one of the victims to leave the house with him and she was forced into the suspect’s vehicle. Four hours later, the victim was found seeking help and medical treatment in a neighboring jurisdiction. She was suffering from serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

During the investigation of these crimes, two separate patrol officers recalled seeing, and running the license plate, of a vehicle that matched the description of the SUV used in these crimes. That information lead to the owner of the SUV, Jorge Torrez.  This police work was instrumental in the identification and subsequent arrest of the suspect.

A jury returned guilty verdicts on Jorge Torrez this afternoon. He was convicted of 14 charges including three counts of Abduction with the Intent to Defile, three counts of Forcible Sodomy, two counts of Robbery, one count of Rape, one count of Breaking and Entering While Armed, and four weapons charges related to the previous charges. The jury recommended five life sentences plus 168 years and a $190,000 fine. The formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2010.

Murray Has $108K Cash on Hand in Latest Filing

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) Republican congressional candidate Patrick Murray raised $173,164 from July 1 to Sept. 30. After expenses, that leaves Murray with $107,937 cash on hand heading into the home stretch of the campaign.

The figures were revealed in a financial disclosure filed with the Federal Election Commission this morning. Today is the deadline for quarterly financial filings from congressional candidates.

Murray has held fundraisers with a number of boldfaced GOP names recently. He has also been designated as “On the Radar” by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

As of June 30, Murray had raised $129,370 and had $29,890 cash on hand. His cumulative fundraising now stands at $267,535. The campaign also has a debt of $34,000.

Murray’s opponent, ten-term Democratic congressman Jim Moran, filed his October quarterly disclosure late this afternoon. Moran’s campaign reported donations of $191,806 from July 1 to Sept. 30, against an expenditure of $199,050.

Moran lists $577,256 cash on hand as of Sept. 30.

Donnellan Makes Two Major Appointments

By ARLnow.com

New Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan has appointed county chief financial officer Mark Schwartz to her former position of deputy county manager. Schwartz served as acting deputy county manager during the seven months from 2009 to 2010 that Donnellan served as acting county manager.

Schawartz, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a law degree from Penn, has overseen the county’s budget and bond sales since 2005.

Also today, Donnellan appointed William F. O’Connor III as director of the Department of Environmental Services. The department manages county roads, sewers, trash services, environmental initiatives and building projects.

O’Connor had been serving as director of design and construction for Arlington Public Schools, where he has been involved with the design, planning and building of three new high schools.

O’Connor’s appointment is effective Nov. 8. Schwartz’s appointment is effective immediately.

“Mark’s extensive background in financial management, strategic planning and administration, and his strong belief in the ability of local government to effect positive change, makes him the natural choice for this key position,” Donnellan said in a statement. “Bill understands both our community and the challenges of running the County’s largest department. His wealth of experience in the public and private sectors will be invaluable to a department that is responsible for everything from capital projects to maintenance of our water, sewers and streets.”

UPDATED: Pedestrian Struck in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:15 p.m.) A pedestrian was struck by a car at the intersection of North Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive just after 1:00 this afternoon.

Bystanders who witnessed the aftermath of the accident say the victim was an older man. He was bleeding from the face when police arrived on scene, but was conscious and was able to sit up before being loaded onto an ambulance, they said.

After the man was taken to the hospital, emergency personnel hosed down the road to wash away the blood.

There was no visible damage to the striking vehicle, a red Toyota. It’s not clear whether the man was crossing the street in a crosswalk when he was struck. A police officer was taking photos of the scene about a half-hour after the accident.

This is the second pedestrian accident on that particular block of Fairfax Drive so far this week. A pedestrian was injured in a two-car accident that also knocked down a light pole on Tuesday.

Bus Fire Reported on I-395

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 6:00 p.m.) Arlington firefighters are on the scene of a reported bus fire on Washington Boulevard near I-395. Heavy smoke could be seen in the area through traffic cameras.

The bus appears to be on northbound Washington Boulevard, near the ramp from I-395.

The fire — or whatever was causing all the smoke — appears to now be under control. Traffic in the area is moving, albeit slowly.

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