death investigation

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

SuperMoon on 7/12/14 (Flickr pool photo by Joseph Gruber)

Arlington Boy Hit and Killed by Car — An 8-year-old Arlington resident was struck and killed by a car while crossing an intersection in Chagrin Falls, Ohio — near Cleveland — on Saturday. Police say Eli Sachar, 8, died at the hospital. His mother and father were also struck by the car and injured. It’s unclear why the 62-year-old driver of the car didn’t stop for pedestrians; she was also transported to a local hospital. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, ABC 5 Cleveland]

Million Dollar Homes Now the Norm in Arlington — Of 222 homes on the market in Arlington late last month, 57 percent were priced above $1 million. Real estate agents say they’re aware of the trend of home prices increasingly exceeding the $1 million mark and “expect it to continue.” [InsideNova]

Dem Delegate Candidate Calls for Streetcar Referendum — Rip Sullivan, the Democratic candidate to replace Del. Bob Brink in the 48th District House of Delegates special election, says if elected he would push for General Assembly approval of an advisory referendum on the Columbia Pike streetcar project. [Washington Post]

Flickr pool photo by Joseph Gruber

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

50 gun salute ready at Arlington National Cemetery (Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman)

Tips for Staying Cool — The temperature today and tomorrow (Tuesday) is expected to reach the mid-to-upper 90s. To help beat the heat, Arlington County has a list of “hot weather tips for staying cool,” including tips and resources for people and pets. [Arlington County]

Arlington Man Found Dead in D.C. — Arlington resident Michael Hrizuk, 57, was found dead on the ground near Wisconsin Avenue NW in the Glover Park neighborhood last month. The Metropolitan Police Department has not yet determined the manner and cause of Hrizuk’s death and is continuing to investigate the incident. [WUSA 9]

Arlington Hailed as ‘Suburb of the Future’ — Arlington has been transformed from a “sleepy suburb” into a “mid-size city” but has managed to reduce the volume of traffic on main streets, according to an article entitled “The Suburb of the Future is Here.” Says Brookings Institution fellow Christopher Leinberger: “Arlington is the most important suburban place in the country… If you don’t understand Arlington, you don’t understand the future of the country.” [Salon]

O.A.R. to Play Clarendon Ballroom — Rock band O.A.R., which hails from Rockville but has enjoyed national success, will play a private acoustic show at the Clarendon Ballroom on July 17. Tickets to the performance are only available via an ongoing, on-air contest on radio stations 94.7 Fresh FM and 106.7 The Fan. The band recently released its eighth studio album, The Rockville LP. [94.7 Fresh FM]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Woman Falls to Death at Pentagon City Apartment Building

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA woman fell to her death at one of the RiverHouse apartment buildings in Pentagon City early Sunday morning.

A source tells ARLnow.com that the woman was intoxicated and within a restricted portion of the building’s rooftop when she fell through an old incinerator chute to her death. Police investigated the incident but no foul play is suspected and investigators believe it to be a “tragic accident,” we’re told.

No additional information is available about the accident at this time. An Arlington County Police spokesman declined comment.

BREAKING: Worker Dies After Excavator Tips Over

By ARLnow.com
1/7

(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) A construction worker has died after a large excavator tipped over and fell on him at a construction site on George Mason Drive.

Rescue crews were called to a construction site on the 400 block of N. George Mason Drive around 3:30 p.m. for a report of a large piece of construction equipment that fell on a person. The victim, believed to be the equipment’s operator, was pronounced dead on the scene by medics at 3:40 p.m.

Firefighters are also reporting a large diesel fuel leak at the accident site. Investigators from the Arlington County Police Department and from Virginia’s occupational safety agency are en route to the scene.

This is the second serious construction accident in a month and a half at the construction site for the Ballston Row townhouse project. On March 31, a worker fell four stories and suffered serious injuries while working on a different building on the other side of 4th Street N.

Police and fire crews remain on scene and they have closed one lane of southbound N. George Mason Drive as of 4:30 p.m.

Driver of Truck That Struck, Killed a Local Mom Charged With Traffic Infraction

By ARLnow.com

Pedestrian struck in front of Nottingham Elementary

Arlington County Police are closing the investigation into the fatal pedestrian crash that occurred in front of Nottingham Elementary School on Feb. 24.

After a month-and-a-half accident investigation, police have charged 33-year-old Manassas resident Marvin Valladres with “failure to pay full time and attention,” a traffic infraction. He will not face more serious criminal charges, like negligence or involuntary manslaughter.

Valladres had just left a nearby construction site and was driving his dump truck down N. Little Falls Road around 11:30 a.m. when a passenger side step caught the open rear sliding door on 39-year-old Jennifer Lawson’s minivan, according to investigators. Lawson had just finished putting her young child in a car seat and was standing next to the driver’s side door when the truck drove by, ripping the sliding door off the minivan and fatally injuring her, police said.

Following the crash, neighbors in the Williamsburg neighborhood held a community meeting, with many calling for answers and accountability. Investigators, however, believe this is a case of a tragic accident.

Valladres was “very cooperative” during the investigation, there was “no indication of any driver distraction or alcohol involved” in the accident, and there was also “no indication of any speeding violation,” according to ACPD Dep. Chief Daniel J. Murray.

Report: Arlington Man Killed By Fellow Rock Climber

By ARLnow.com

David Lawrence Dipaolo (photo courtesy Warren County, N.Y. Sheriff)(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A 69-year-old Arlington man was killed by a fellow climber while rock climbing in Maryland’s Carderock Recreation Area, according to federal prosecutors.

D.C. Crime Stories reports that Bristow, Va. resident David DiPaolo, 31, was arrested in upstate New York and charged with manslaughter in the death of Geoffrey Farrar, of Arlington. The website, run by former Washington Examiner crime reporter Scott McCabe, reports that DiPaolo (pictured, left) admitted to striking Farrar in the head with a claw hammer during an argument and physical struggle at the base of a cliff.

Farrar, a resident of Arlington’s Bellevue Forest neighborhood, was remembered in an online funeral home guestbook as an avid rock climber, sometimes known as “Carderock Jeff.” His obituary initially listed the cause of death as a “rock climbing accident.”

Photo courtesy Warren County (N.Y.) Sheriff

Fatal Accident on Memorial Circle

By ARLnow.com

(Updated on 12/4/13) A woman died early this morning in a single-vehicle accident on Memorial Circle.

The fatal crash happened at about 1:20 a.m. A vehicle was heading outbound on the Memorial Bridge when it “lost control and overturned for unknown reasons” at Memorial Circle, according to U.S. Park Police. The deceased was identified by police as 36-year-old Katharine Jane Rahim of Reston.

“One vehicle was involved and the sole occupant, an adult female died at the scene,” police said. The bridge and the circle were closed for several hours this morning for an accident investigation.

Man Killed by Orange Line Train Along I-66

By ARLnow.com

Orange Line train stopped along I-66 on 8/18/13 (photo courtesy @dangerousashes)A man was struck and killed by an Orange Line train between the East Falls Church and Ballston stations early this morning.

The incident happened around 2:00 a.m. An inbound Orange Line train struck the man on the aboveground portion of track along I-66, away from either station. The man, a 21-year-old Massachusetts resident, was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.

Eight passengers were aboard the train that struck the man. After an hour delay due to power being cut to the tracks, they were transferred to another train to continue their trip, Stessel said. Other trains were able to get around the incident with minimal delays.

Crime scene investigators from the Arlington County Police Department were called to the scene by WMATA, to assist Metro Transit Police. So far, there’s no word as to how or why the man managed to get on the tracks.

“It is unclear why he was on the tracks,” said Stessel. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Photo courtesy @dangerousashes

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

View from an office building in Ballston

Brother Attacked Outside Library Dies — One of the 26-year-old twins who was stabbed outside Arlington Central Library in June has died. Tim Kern died at a homeless shelter on Saturday. Police do not suspect foul play and say his injuries from the attack did not contribute directly to his death. [Washington Post]

Wes Anderson Movies at Eat Bar — Eat Bar, at 2761 Washington Blvd near Clarendon, is hosting a mini Wes Anderson film fest. Each Sunday night in August the restaurant will show a different movie from the director. This Sunday, the movie is Rushmore. [Clarendon Nights]

County Fair Starts Tonight — The Arlington County Fair kicks off tonight. The fairgrounds at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.) will be open from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The fair’s indoor exhibits will open starting Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Peaceful Walk to Honor Two Murder Victims

By Katie Pyzyk

Keefe Spriggs (left) and Carl Moten (right)(Updated at 5:00 p.m.) As the one year mark of the still unsolved Hall’s Hill double murder approaches, the community has come together for an event to honor victims Keefe Spriggs and Carl Moten.

The two men were found dead in an apartment in the 1900 block of N. Culpeper Street on August 7 last year. Although initially referred to as “suspicious deaths,” police quickly re-classified the incident as a double homicide. No weapon was found at the scene and the murders are considered an isolated incident.

To honor the memory of 59-year-old Spriggs and 31-year-old Moten, neighbors planned a peaceful walk that will take place tonight. Organizers believe up to 100 people may participate in the walk, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at High View Park on N. Dinwiddie Street. Police do not plan to work crowd control because the peaceful event will keep to the sidewalks and no road closures are needed.

Shortly after the murders last year, members gathered for a candlelight vigil for Spriggs and Moten. Dozens of people showed up to take part in the singing, prayer and poetry reading.

Police have not released any new information about the homicides, but confirm the investigation is still open. Anyone who may have information about the murders should call Det. Robert Wright at 703-228-4197. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477).

Photo courtesy WJLA/ABC 7

Bond Set at $25,000 for Woman Charged with Death of Infant Son

By Ethan Rothstein

Zoraida Magali Conde Hernandez (photo via ACPD)The Alexandria woman accused of fatally locking her 8-month-old son in a hot car earlier this month had her bond set at $25,000 in Arlington County Circuit Court on Thursday morning.

Zoraida Magal Conde Hernandez, 32, reached an agreement with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office to have supervised visits with her four other children. She is not allowed unsupervised contact.

The Alexandria Department of Community & Human Services agreed to allow the supervised visits and to conduct a mental health evaluation, complete with a risk assessment, before Conde Hernandez is allowed back in her home.

Conde Hernandez was arrested July 6 after police say she forgot her child in her car, in the sweltering heat, for six hours while she was at work . The car was parked on the 200 block of S. Glebe Road.

She “noticed the baby was left inside his car seat when she arrived at a daycare to pick up one of her other children,” according to the Arlington County Police Department. “The baby was unresponsive and she immediately drove to Inova Alexandria hospital, where the child was pronounced dead a short time later.”

Hernandez is charged with felony child neglect. Her case was appealed to the Circuit Court for the bond hearing, and the next steps will take place in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Photo via ACPD

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