crash

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

It’s October — The good news: playoff baseball returns. The bad news: cold temperatures return.

Abuse Charges at Nursing Home — Nearly a dozen employees of the Potomac Center nursing home in Pentagon City have been indicted on charges including neglect and assault. An investigation by the Virginia State Medicare Fraud Office and the FBI determined that employees neglected patient care, forged documents and abused at least one patient. A $10 million lawsuit has also been filed against Potomac Center’s parent company. More from WUSA9.

SUV Rollover Driver Charged — The mother who flipped her SUV on I-395 during yesterday morning’s rain  has been charged with failure to maintain control of her vehicle. The 36-year-old woman and her two kids were taken to the hospital after the accident, which temporarily shut down all southbound lanes of the highway. More from the Associated Press.

Whipple Votes Against Costly Revised Liquor Plan — Gov. Bob McDonnell has revised his plan to privatize Virginia’s liquor stores, but has lost the support of an Arlington lawmaker in the process. Responding to criticism from his own party, McDonnell dropped two proposed tax hikes on cocktail sales and wholesale liquor purchases. The change opened a $47 million per year hole in the state’s budget, prompting Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington) to vote against it as a member of a state subcommittee on government reform. More from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Flickr pool photo by Picture Perfect

BREAKING NEWS — SUV Rollover Crash on I-395

By ARLnow.com

An SUV rolled over several times on southbound I-395 near the ramp to Washington Boulevard. All lanes are currently blocked.

At least two other cars are reported to be involved in the accident.

There are no immediate reports of injuries.

Update at 9:10 a.m. — One lane is now squeezing by.

Update at 9:30 a.m. — Two lanes are now getting by the accident scene. The SUV is currently being loaded onto a flatbed tow truck. Traffic backing up to the Pentagon.

Update at 10:05 a.m. — The accident has been cleared.

Update at 10:10 a.m. — WTOP’s Adam Tuss is confirming scanner reports that a mom and her two kids were in the SUV at the time of the accident. They were taken to Fairfax Hospital.

EXCLUSIVE: College Pro Painters Fined Following Electrical Accident

By ARLnow.com

(Updated on 9/30) Citing “serious” violations of occupational safety laws, Virginia’s Department of Labor and Industry has slapped Massachusetts-based College Pro Painters with a $14,875 fine for a near-fatal electrical accident in Ashton Heights on June 16.

A painter in his mid-20’s nearly died after the ladder he was using touched 19,900 volt power lines at a home on North Highland Street. The employee was burned and knocked back nearly 9 feet by the electrical shock. He was without a pulse when paramedics arrived on the scene, but was resuscitated and eventually transported to the MedStar burn unit in DC.

At the time, College Pro Painters president Rodney Larmand told ARLnow.com that the company was “deeply concerned” and was “investigating the circumstances” that led to the accident.

According to a citation obtained by ARLnow.com under the Freedom of Information Act, state safety inspectors determined that the company “failed to ensure employees did not perform any work” that would cause ladders or other equipment “to be placed within 10 feet of any overhead high voltage line.”

The company also failed to work with the power company to make temporary safety arrangements before the work was performed, and “did not ensure first aid supplies were easily accessible,” according to state inspectors.

The company has the right to contest the citation, which was issued earlier this month. Larmand declined to comment on the fine, citing a scheduled meeting with state occupational safety officials on Wednesday.

He did, however, point out that College Pro Painters has a safety record that is “significantly better than industry standard.

“Our safety program is excellent and we plan to continue our current program with improvements and updates for 2011 that will take into consideration our learning from this unfortunate incident,” Larmand said.

BREAKING NEWS — Woman Rescued from Flipped SUV on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

A small SUV crashed and rolled onto its side at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Four Mile Run Drive just after 3:00 this afternoon. As a crowd of nearly 100 onlookers watched and captured cell phone videos, firefighters used the jaws of life and brute strength to pry off the vehicle’s roof and free the woman in the driver’s seat.

Bloodied but alert, the woman was placed on a stretcher and wheeled to a waiting ambulance. As she was freed, the crowd broke into applause.

As of 4:15 p.m, traffic was blocked on Four Mile Run Drive and on eastbound Columbia Pike near the accident. There were significant delays on westbound Columbia Pike approaching the accident.

The woman’s exact condition is unknown, as are the circumstances surrounding the crash. There did not appear to be any other passengers in the vehicle.

More photos after the jump.

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Herndon Man Dies After Morning Accident on I-66

By ARLnow.com

Police have released additional details about this morning’s now-fatal multi-vehicle accident on I-66.

Chip Moss, 52, of Herndon was driving eastbound on I-66 near the exit to Route 110 around 9:00 this morning when he suffered an apparent heart attack, lost control of his car and crossed through several lanes of traffic. Two people suffered non-life threatening injuries in the resulting seven car pile-up, Arlington police said in a statement.

Moss was rushed to a local hospital while paramedics performed CPR. He was later pronounced dead.

Photo courtesy ARLnow.com commenter “Jeff”

BREAKING NEWS — Multi-Vehicle Accident on I-66

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 9:45 a.m.) A four-car accident with injuries has occurred on eastbound I-66 near the Roosevelt Bridge and the ramp to Route 110.

Initial reports suggested one vehicle flipped over — if so it has since been righted. We’re also hearing that CPR was performed on one victim, and that he was rushed to the hospital in full cardiac arrest. (See update here)

The vehicles involved in the accident include a Porsche, a Mercedes-Benz, an Acura and a minivan. Three other cars with no immediately visible signs of damage are also stopped at the accident scene.

Only one travel lane currently gets by at the accident scene.

Traffic on eastbound I-66 is being diverted onto Spout Run. Delays start at Sycamore Street/East Falls Church Metro.

Update at 10:05 a.m. — Traffic is back open on I-66 at Spout Run.

Update at 11:05 a.m. — Still just one lane getting by as flatbed trucks continue to take the damaged cars away.

Update at 1:30 p.m. — All lanes are back open.

Car Smashes Over Guardrail on I-395 Exit

By ARLnow.com

A car smashed over a guardrail while trying to exit onto Glebe Road from northbound I-395. Initial reports suggest that the car’s two occupants only suffered minor injuries.

The exit ramp is currently closed while medics attend to the occupants and as a tow truck attempts to clear the wreckage.

Traffic on I-395 does not appear to be affected.

Slow Start to the Weekend For I-66 Commuters

By ARLnow.com

If you were thinking of making a quick break for home or vacation on westbound I-66 today, think again. An accident on westbound I-66 before the Spout Run Parkway exit is backing up traffic leaving the District.

One lane is currently getting by past the accident scene.

Update at 5:45 p.m. — The accident has been cleared. Delays remain.

Delays on Westbound I-66 After Accident

By ARLnow.com

There are some big delays on westbound I-66 after an accident near Glebe Road. Paramedics are currently trying to make their way through heavy traffic to the scene of the accident.

At 9:50 a.m., police on the scene said they were temporarily shutting down the highway while they move the accident to the side of the road.

Traffic had slowed to a crawl before the wreck, but is starting to clear out.

Motorcycle Accident in I-66 Tunnel

By ARLnow.com

A motorcyclist somehow lost control of his bike and skidded across westbound I-66 in the Rosslyn tunnel this afternoon.

The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. Initial reports suggest the biker’s injuries are minor.

The right-hand lane of I-66 is temporarily blocked.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Hit-and-Run Bus Driver Facing Discipline — The Metrobus driver accused of rear-ending a car in Ballston and then driving off “will be disciplined,” a WMATA spokesperson tells TBD. Metro says the accident was “preventable” but is refusing to release the results of drug and alcohol tests performed on the driver after the accident.

Local Technology Firm Sold — Arlington-based ICx Technologies has agreed to be purchased by Oregon-based Flir Systems for $274 million. ICx manufactures high-tech sensors that can detect radiation, chemicals, explosives, and biological agents. Some of ICx’s largest clients include the U.S. military and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More from the Oregonian.

Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser Tonight — A happy hour fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia will be held tonight at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington (4251 South Campbell Avenue), the Shirlington Village Blog reports. From 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., five percent of the restaurant’s revenue will be donated to the organization’s Northern Virginia office.

Flickr pool photo by Amberture

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