Backups on the GW Parkway due to crash (via Google Maps)
Update at 6 p.m — All lanes have reopened, according to Arlington Alert.
Earlier: All lanes of the GW Parkway in Arlington are currently blocked by a crash.
Police and medics are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the southbound GW Parkway near Chain Bridge. At least three people were hurt in the crash and are being taken to local hospitals via ambulance, according to scanner traffic.
Commuters should expect significant delays in both directions on the Parkway, which also has lane closures due to ongoing construction.
LOCATION: George Washington Memorial Pkwy / VA-123 (Dolly Madison Boulevard) INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: All lanes of GW Pkwy are blocked in both directions in the area of VA-123 (Dolly Madison Blvd.) Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/9PRphmgcN6
Moments before a collision between a cyclist and a person on a scooter or skateboard on the Custis Trail (via Dave Statter/Twitter)
Medics treated two people after a violent collision on a local trail Friday evening.
The crash on the Custis Trail, at the intersection of eastbound Langston Blvd and Ft. Myer Drive in Rosslyn, was caught on camera.
In the video, posted by local public safety watcher Dave Statter, a cyclist can be seen crossing Ft. Myer Drive at the intersection. The cyclist then collides with a person on a motorized scooter or skateboard who turned in front of them.
Both people remained nearly motionless on the ground as a pair of cyclists pulled up and started providing aid. Firefighters can then be seen arriving on scene, ahead of the arrival of two ambulances.
The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. Friday, according to scanner traffic. The extent of the injuries are unclear and an Arlington County police spokeswoman had no further information about the incident.
Crash on Old Dominion Drive near N. Dickerson Street
Crash on Old Dominion Drive near N. Dickerson Street
Part of Old Dominion Drive is blocked in both directions in the Rock Spring neighborhood due to a crash.
The crash was first reported around 3 p.m. It happened near the intersection with N. Dickerson Street, west of Williamsburg Blvd and east of the Fairfax County border.
Two vehicles — reportedly a Jeep and a BMW — suffered heavy front-end damage. A third vehicle, a Tesla, was also reported to have been involved in the crash but did not appear to have significant damage.
No serious injuries have been reported. It is unclear how long it will take for the road to reopen.
The crash happened about a block away from the 2022 crash that killed a Washington-Liberty High School student.
Serious pedestrian crash at Columbia Pike and S. Greenbrier Street
Police and medics responded to a serious pedestrian crash and a collision with multiple injuries Sunday night.
The crashes happened just a half hour apart, with the pedestrian crash at Columbia Pike and S. Greenbrier Street first reported around 9:45 p.m.
Initial reports suggest that a middle-aged man was struck by the driver of a Toyota. The intersection remains closed and police are still on scene investigating as of publication time, which is usually indicative of a crash involving a very serious injury or fatality.
Around 10:15 p.m., another significant crash was reported, this time in northern Arlington. Initial reports suggest that at least three people, including a juvenile, were hospitalized after two cars collided at the intersection of Langston Blvd and Lorcom Lane.
After a cleanup, the intersection reopened about an hour later.
No further details were immediately available about either crash.
LOCATION: Columbia Pike / S Greenbrier St. INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: Columbia Pike from S. Frederick St. to S Greenbrier St. is closed. Seek an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/1U05rrqe6p
INCIDENT: Traffic Collision LOCATION: Langston Blvd (Rt. 29)/Lorcom Lane IMPACT: The intersection of Langston Blvd (Rt. 29) and Lorcom Lane is closed in all directions. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/RhQ25BN4BM
Car overturning on S. Glebe Road as another driver approaches (via Dave Statter/Twitter)
(Updated at 1 p.m.) An out-of-control driver’s flipping car nearly struck another driver overnight near Columbia Pike.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. this morning on S. Glebe Road, a few blocks north of the Pike, on the border of the Alcova Heights and Arlington Heights neighborhoods.
Sparks fly as the car crosses the center median and rolls over before apparently coming to rest upright.
A driver heading northbound narrowly avoids the crashing vehicle as it crosses over from the southbound lanes. Local public safety watcher Dave Statter posted a video (below) of the near-miss later Monday morning.
“No indications of injuries,” Statter noted.
Watch this one: Just after 1:00 this morning a car overturned on southbound S. Glebe Road south of 7th Street. Look how lucky the northbound driver was. The video feed from Arlington reset before the car crossed back over the median. It appeared to be upright. No indications of… pic.twitter.com/c56kY1v7Aq
Tesla crash at Columbia Pike playground (photo courtesy Julia M.)
Tesla crash at Columbia Pike playground (photo courtesy Marcio S.)
Tesla crash at Columbia Pike playground (photo courtesy Marcio S.)
Tesla crash at Columbia Pike playground (photo courtesy Marcio S.)
Tesla crash at Columbia Pike playground (photo courtesy Marcio S.)
The driver of a Tesla careened down a hill and smashed into a playground over the weekend along Columbia Pike.
The crash happened around 1:45 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Wildwood Park apartments, on the 5500 block of Columbia Pike.
No other vehicles were involved, according to police, and no injuries were reported.
“The preliminary investigation indicates the driver was attempting to park in the 3400 block of S. Jefferson Street when the vehicle proceeded down a hill and struck a fence, wall and utility pole,” Arlington County police spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow.
Scanner traffic suggests the vehicle — a Tesla Model Y with Maryland temporary tags — overturned at least once while going down the hill but came to rest upright.
The playground, which is “usually packed with kids,” was empty amid a steady rain, a tipster tells ARLnow.
The driver, a 59-year-old Maryland woman, “was issued a summons for reckless driving,” according to Savage. She works at a nearby senior living facility, online records suggest.
Intersection of N. Rhodes Street and Wilson Blvd facing east (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Intersection of N. Rhodes Street and Wilson Blvd facing west (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Arlington County is looking to make safety upgrades to an intersection between Rosslyn and Courthouse that has seen four pedestrian-involved crashes in four years.
The intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Rhodes Street has long been seen as dicey, according to complaints from cyclists and commuters and previous ARLnow coverage. Resident complaints, plus a review of crash data, have prompted the county to make changes now.
The $2.8 million project would see updated signal equipment, sidewalks and pedestrian ramps and upgrades to reduce conflicts between cyclists and buses. The county is in the design stage of the project and wants community feedback on possible changes. An online survey is open now through Sunday, Oct. 22.
The intersection saw 28 total crashes between 2016 and 2020, including 22 resulting in property damage and four involving pedestrians, Dept. of Environmental Services spokesperson Claudia Pors told ARLnow. These numbers fast tracked the intersection for improvements as part of Vision Zero, the county’s goal to end serious and fatal crashes by 2030,
“[The intersection] was flagged as a pedestrian crash Hot Spot because it had more than 3 pedestrian crashes,” Pors said.
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to crashes here “due to higher vehicle speeds during turning movements when pedestrians have the right of way in the crosswalks,” according to the county.
The intersection has seen several crashes over the years. A spate of three crashes occurred in 2010, including one involving a pedestrian. Another dramatic crash, including an SUV that flipped on its side, occurred in 2017.
Originally, the county planned to build a “bus stop island” at the northeast corner of the intersection to reduce the number of close calls between cyclists and buses. This particular bus stop ranks in the top 10% of transit stops in Arlington, exceeding 50 users per day, according to the county.
After reviewing the crash data and hearing from road users, however, county staff determined it made more sense to overhaul the entire intersection.
The survey asks respondents to identify whether they are residents or commuters and to specify their usual mode of transportation through the intersection. Participants are then invited to rate their sense of safety while navigating the area and to pinpoint potential improvements on an interactive map.
Some people who have already commented have suggested removing the right-turn lane onto Wilson Blvd and install a concrete median to separate cyclists and vehicles. Other ideas include relocating the bus stop to ease congestion and implementing traffic-calming measures.
The survey results will inform a conceptual design set for publication this winter for a second round of public engagement.
Screenshot of traffic camera video showing motorcycle crash (via SafetyVid)
Police on scene of motorcycle crash near Ballston
A motorcyclist suffered a significant injury this afternoon after a crash near Ballston that was caught on camera.
The crash happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Washington Blvd.
Footage from a traffic camera, below, shows the rider of the motorcycle making a left turn in front of the driver of a silver car, who hit the brakes but too late to avoid the collision.
Two fellow riders who were also waiting to turn left can be seen hurrying to provide aid. A driver who was behind the trio can also be seen stopping to help. It was not immediately clear whether the striking driver remained on scene.
Initial reports suggest that the rider suffered a serious broken leg and perhaps other injuries. They were taken via ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The intersection was partially closed immediately after the crash due to the police and fire department response.
Crash and arrest after chase on the Pentagon grounds (courtesy Dave Statter)
Crash and arrest after chase on the Pentagon grounds (courtesy Dave Statter)
A 22-year-old Centreville woman is facing charges after allegedly leading police on a chase around the Pentagon reservation.
The wild incident happened early in the morning of Sunday, Oct. 1 and ended in a crash. It all was captured on video by local public safety watcher Dave Statter.
“On Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at approximately 1:20 a.m., the Pentagon Force Protection Agency observed a vehicle driving in the Pentagon South Parking lot with sparks emanating from the front of the vehicle,” Pentagon police spokesman Chris Layman tells ARLnow.
“The driver’s side of the vehicle included heavy damage and a front wheel was missing. Pentagon police signaled the driver to stop several times, and she eventually crashed into a bollard at the Pentagon Transit Center lower bus platform.”
Watch: The chase of a woman driving a car on Pentagon grounds with a missing front tire went on for about 4 minutes Sunday morning. This new video shows @PFPAOfficial converging on the car as it pulled away and drove around much of the south side of the Pentagon. The woman was… pic.twitter.com/AnSuobBFU5
“Police officers extinguished a fire that had developed, and the Arlington County Fire Department responded,” Layman continued. “The driver… was taken to the Virginia Hospital Center by Arlington County for evaluation. After evaluation, she was returned to the Pentagon where she was cited for disregarding a signal by a law-enforcement officer to stop and driving while intoxicated. She was released at approximately 6:58 a.m.”
Layman said the vehicle involved was a 2002 BMW. The woman had no prior criminal record in Arlington County, according to court records.
The scene of a crash on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 at N. Park Drive and N. George Mason Drive (courtesy John Broehm)
The scene of a crash on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 at N. Park Drive and N. George Mason Drive (courtesy John Broehm)
The scene of the crash on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at N. Park Drive and N. George Mason Drive (courtesy John Broehm)
(Updated at 12:50 p.m.) In the last four days, a crash-prone intersection near Lubber Run Community Center has logged nearly as many crashes.
Two crashes on Monday at the intersection of N. Park Drive and N. George Mason Drive — also near Barrett Elementary School — resulted in reported minor injuries. The other, this past Friday, caused only property damage. In two of the cases, a driver was cited, according to ACPD.
At this troubled intersection, drivers on N. Park Drive have a two-way stop sign before traversing the four lanes of traffic on N. George Mason Drive. There have been some changes intended to improve safety but it may take upwards of three years before some neighbors get what they have been pushing for: stop lights.
“We are looking to fully signalize the intersection in all four directions,” says Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman Claudia Pors. “The County is developing plans to install the signal within the next three years.”
The county also intends to make pedestrian ramps accessible to people with disabilities and make other changes that require construction. This means the project would have to use Capital Improvement Program funds.
“The precise combination of funds or programs has not been identified as of yet,” she said.
The pair of crashes bring the total number of reportable crashes — those resulting in injuries, death, or at least $1,500 of damage — to three this calendar year, ACPD says. The intersection has averaged three or four crashes annually since 2017.
Crash reports at N. George Mason Drive and N. Park Drive as of Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 (data courtesy ACPD)
Two of the crashes involved drivers on N. Park Drive trying to cross N. George Mason Drive or turn onto the road.
The preliminary investigation into a crash Monday morning, around 9:30 a.m., “indicates the a driver was traveling on N. Park Drive when they attempted to cross N. George Mason Drive resulting in a collision with another motorist who was traveling on N. George Mason Drive,” ACPD said.
That evening, police were dispatched to the report of a crash with injuries just before 5:30 p.m., ACPD later told ARLnow.
The investigation into Friday’s crash, shortly after 1 p.m., “indicates the driver of the striking vehicle was attempting to turn from N. Park Drive onto George Mason Drive when they stuck a vehicle traveling on George Mason Drive,” ACPD says.
Angle crashes — which comprise the largest share of crashes in Arlington — made up most if not all the crashes last year, according to a 2022 crash report. This intersection is one of nearly a dozen that saw upwards of five angle crashes last year, and only one other intersection saw six or more.
The recent crashes reignited calls from some neighbors to act more quickly to install a traffic light.
“We feel like the County is waiting for a serious injury before they do something here,” says neighbor John Broehm.
So far this year, the the county has lowered speeds on the road near Barrett, repaved and restriped intersection — adding a “SLOW SCHOOL XING” message, Pors said.
Responding to county-wide policy, speeds were reduced on parts of N. Park Drive near the school to 20 mph at all times. The speed limit on N. George Mason Drive in the area is 30 mph, reduced to 20 mph when a light near the community center is flashing.
Previously, in 2020, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons were installed to give pedestrians a more “protected” window to cross at the N. Park Road intersection.
Overturned vehicle on N. Columbus Street (photo courtesy Michael Thomas)
Overturned vehicle on N. Columbus Street (photo courtesy Michael Thomas)
A 24-year-old man is facing several charges after a rollover crash Sunday morning.
The crash happened just before 6 a.m. near the intersection of Route 50 and N. Columbus Street in the Arlington Forest neighborhood.
A man driving a Chevy Camaro ran into a brick wall lining a residential property, flipping the coupe on its roof in the process. A local resident told ARLnow that there was “blood on the airbags” and the “driver apologized to [the] home owner before ambulating away.”
A suspect was later spotted on foot along Route 50 and taken into custody, an Arlington County police spokeswoman told ARLnow.
“Upon arrival, officers located an unoccupied, overturned vehicle which had struck a retaining wall,” ACPD’s Alli Shorb said. “Witnesses reported observing the male driver, who was determined to be the sole occupant of the vehicle, leave the scene on foot following the crash.”
“A lookout was broadcast and responding officers located the driver in the area of S. Carlin Springs Road and Arlington Boulevard and took him into custody,” Shorb continued. “He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries considered non-life threatening.”
The suspect, a Falls Church resident, “was charged with Driving Under the Influence, Hit and Run and Driving Without a License,” Shorb said.
Route 50 intersections bordering the Arlington Forest neighborhood have proven crash-prone over the years, particularly the intersection of Route 50 and Park Drive, where a rollover crash happened in April.
