death investigation

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Wild Animals Rescued During Hurricane — Given this week’s weather, Hurricane Irene is increasingly looking like a brief summer rain shower. Nonetheless, the hurricane created a dangerous situation for humans and animals alike. Animal control officers from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington rescued more than 20 wild animals during the storm, mostly baby squirrels. [Washington Post]

Defense Contractor Moving HQ to Arlington — Defense contractor ATK is moving its headquarters from Minneapolis to Rosslyn. The move will only affect the top brass at the company, however. Fewer than 10 employees, mostly executives, are expected to make the move. [DefenseNews]

Arlington Man Found Dead in N.J. — Arlington resident David C. Williams, 47, was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of his car in Woodbine, N.J. on Wednesday. Foul play is not suspected. [Shore News Today]

Arlington Arts Center Happy Hour — The Arlington Arts Center will be starting its series of fall happy hours on Thursday, Sept. 15. [Clarendon Nights]

Flickr photo courtesy of Brendan L.

Police Identify Bicycle Accident Victim

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police have released the identity of the bicyclist who was killed in South Arlington over the weekend.

The Arlington County Police Department is investigating a fatal traffic accident that occurred on [Sunday] in the 4000 block of Four Mile Run Drive. At approximately 2:56 p.m. on May 8, 2011, police responded for a bicyclist that collided with a vehicle.

Fitzgerald Pollard, 44, of Arlington, was riding his bicycle south on South Walter Reed Drive, turned right onto the access road of Four Mile Run Drive and crossed into oncoming traffic. Mr. Pollard then struck an occupied vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

The Arlington County Police asking that any witnesses of the accident contact the Department at 703 558-2222, or Detective Don Fortunato at 703 228-4197.

BREAKING NEWS — Bicyclist Dead After Collision With Car

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 9:25 p.m.) A bicyclist was struck and killed by a car near the intersection of Four Mile Run Drive and S. Walter Reed Drive this afternoon.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to Arlington County police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal. Police are still investigating the accident — which occurred around 3:00 p.m. — and will release the victim’s name when next of kin are notified.

According to police, the adult male cyclist was turning onto the Four Mile Run Drive access road from southbound Walter Reed Drive when he collided with a car heading in the opposite direction. The man was brought to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Arlington County transportation officials are in the process of planning safety improvements for the intersection, which handles bicycle traffic from the W&OD Trail.

See the police press release, after the jump.

Hat tip to @abend0c4

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Pedestrian Struck on Quincy Street Dies

By ARLnow.com

A 28-year-old Arlington woman who was struck by a pickup truck near Washington-Lee High School two weeks ago has succumbed to her injuries, according to police.

Alison Beth Drucker, an environmental consultant with Falls Church-based JDM Associates, was walking her dog on the Quincy Street bridge on Monday, April 11, when police say a pickup truck traveling northbound on the bridge struck her and the dog.

The dog died on the scene. Drucker was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, including a head injury. She was eventually placed in a medically-induced coma by doctors and earlier today she passed away.

The 18-year-old driver of the pickup truck, Joseph DiFilippo, was charged with reckless driving a day after the accident. No word yet on whether additional charges will be filed. Police say they are still investigating the accident.

Photo via Twitter

Jogger Hit By Truck on GW Parkway Dies

By ARLnow.com

The jogger who was struck by a truck while waiting to cross the GW Parkway last week has died.

On Thursday afternoon Karen Dubin, 56, was waiting to cross the northbound lanes of the GW Parkway, south of Memorial Bridge, when she was struck by a pickup truck, according to U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. David Schlosser. Dubin, of Bethesda, was transported to George Washington University Hospital. She succumbed to her injuries last night, Schlosser said.

Witness accounts posted here and on a blog created to update friends and family on Dubin’s condition shed light on how the accident happened. According to multiple accounts, Dubin was standing on the side of the Parkway near the north ramp to Memorial Bridge when a couple of cars stopped to let her cross. A pickup truck apparently didn’t see the stopped cars in time and swerved to avoid a rear-end collision. The truck struck Dubin and became pinned on top of her. Fellow joggers and other witnesses rushed to the scene and helped to lift the big truck off of Dubin while others called 911. She was conscious, alert and talking when she was brought to the hospital.

Schosser says the driver of the truck remained on the scene. No charges have been filed yet, but “the investigation is on-going,” he said.

Karen was “a loving and vibrant wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend,” according to those who knew her. She was an international trade specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, with degrees from George Washington University and Syracuse University, according to her LinkedIn page.

Photo via family blog

Body Found In Front of Ballston Building

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:10 p.m.) Police are investigating a body found in front of Randolph Towers (4001 9th Street N.) in Ballston.

A man died after jumping or falling from the building, according to police. The death is being investigated as a possible suicide.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is a phone call away. Call CrisisLink at 703-527-4077.

Woman Falls to Her Death in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

A woman fell to her death from the Lenox Club apartments in Pentagon City Sunday evening.

A witness tells us the woman jumped from a 5th floor window around 6:30 p.m. Police are investigating her death as a suicide.

Last night there were shards of broken glass on the sidewalk in front of the building on 12th Street South. The area was roped off with police tape.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is a phone call away. Call CrisisLink at 703-527-4077.

UPDATED: Woman Found Dead in Front of Ballston Common Mall

By ARLnow.com

A woman, believed to be homeless, was found dead in front of Ballston Common Mall this morning, Arlington Police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal confirms.

The deceased woman was found on the stairs outside Macy’s, in the alleyway between the mall and a Chipotle restaurant. Police are on the scene investigating.

Update at 4:40 p.m. — Police have released the following statement about the incident.

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating the death of a woman discovered this morning.

At approximately 9:49 a.m., police and medic units were called to the 4300 block of Wilson Boulevard for an unresponsive person. Upon arrival, it was apparent that the person was deceased. The victim is an adult female, who was possibly homeless. The investigation is on going, and more details will be released when available.

Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242, or Detective Alan Lowrey at (703) 228-4199.

Man Dies After Falling From Secure Office Building

By ARLnow.com

A man died this morning after falling from a secure government office building in Crystal City. Initial reports suggest the man may have purposely jumped from a second floor balcony into an outside stairwell adjacent to Crystal Drive.

The building, which houses a number of Department of Defense offices, is located at the corner of Crystal Drive and 18th Street. Arlington County Police, Pentagon Police and other federal law enforcement officers were at the scene of the incident, which occurred shortly after 11:00 this morning.

Shortly before the incident, a Twitter user reported seeing a man in a suit jump onto the tracks at the Crystal City Metro station as a train was approaching. The man then jumped back onto the platform and ran out of the station, the user said. It’s currently not known if the two incidents are connected.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is a phone call away. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Woman Dies After Lighting Herself on Fire in Falls Church

By ARLnow.com

It was a horrific scene on South James Street in Falls Church Saturday afternoon.

On a quiet residential street, two blocks away from the Broadale Village Shopping Center, a 54-year-old woman apparently doused herself with a flammable substance and lit herself on fire, according to Arlington fire department spokesperson Lt. Ed Hughes.

Falls Church police and Arlington firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene.

“Upon arrival, officers found a female, in her 50s, leaning against the outside wall of a residence, underneath a spigot with water running over her body,” Falls Church Police said in a statement today. “She had second and third degree burns over 70% of her body.”

The woman, whose identity has not been released, was rushed to nearby Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, where a helicopter was waiting to airlift her to the Washington Hospital Center burn unit. She succumbed to her injuries early Sunday morning, Falls Church Police said.

The Falls Church Police Department and the Arlington County Fire Marshal are investigating the incident as a possible suicide, according to Arlington Chief Fire Marshal Benjamin Barksdale.

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