death

BREAKING NEWS — One Killed in Ft. Myer Heights Fire

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:20 p.m.) A man was killed in a two-alarm fire at the Prospect House condominiums (1200 N. Nash Street) in Ft. Myer Heights last night, authorities have confirmed.

Fire broke out in a third floor condo around 11:20 p.m. Firefighters arriving at the scene reported heavy smoke and flames. One victim was found in the apartment and transported to George Washington University Hospital. He was later pronounced dead.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze relatively quickly, said ACFD spokesman Lt. Gregg Karl. There was significant damage to one apartment and some smoke damage to nearby units.

The victim has been identified as 77-year-old Frederick Cole, the sole occupant of the apartment that caught fire.

“The fire investigation is ongoing, but it does not appear to be suspicious at this time,” authorities said in a statement.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Place and Street Names Explained — Ever wonder how Rosslyn, Clarendon, Aurora Hills, Lorcom Lane and other county neighborhoods and thoroughfares got their names? The Falls Church News-Press’s Arlington correspondent has the answers, courtesy of a new book from the Arlington Historical Society. More from FCNP.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Events in Shirlington — Check out this comprehensive list of the New Year’s Eve happenings in Shirlington Village (via Shirlington Village Blog). After you party all night, feel free to lounge all day at Busboys and Poets’ New Year’s Day pajama brunch (via Shirlington Village Blogspot).

Two Die in AHC-Owned Building — Carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in the deaths of two people in a Baltimore rowhouse. The home is owned by Arlington-based affordable housing organization AHC Inc. More from the Baltimore Sun.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Quarterdeck May Remain Open, After All — TBD is reporting that the owner of Quarterdeck has reopened lease negotiations with the property’s landlord. Last week it was revealed that owner Lou Gatti was telling Radnor / Fort Myer Heights residents that the restaurant would be closing after 31 years in business.

Plastic Bag Tax May Have to Wait — The county board’s desire to impose a 5-cent tax on plastic grocery store bags — similar to the tax currently in place in the District — may have to wait until another year. At Wednesday’s work session between the board and Arlington’s state legislative delegation, bag tax proponent Del. Adam Ebbin said getting Virginia lawmakers to grant Arlington the authority to impose such a tax would likely be “a multi-year effort.” More from the Sun Gazette.

Long-Time Parks Employee Dies — Long-time Parks and Recreation Department supervisor Alan W. Brady has died. Brady, who ran a landscaping business in Arlington after retiring from the department, will be remembered at a memorial service in Ranson, W.V. on Monday. He was 58. More from the Martinsburg Journal.

Flickr pool photo by Patryce

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.

Beloved Ashlawn Elementary Teacher Dies Suddenly

By ARLnow.com

A beloved fifth grade teacher at Ashlawn Elementary School suddenly passed away on Friday, two weeks before the start of school.

Long-time Ashlawn teacher Jimsey L. Frye is being remembered as a devoted educator with an infectious sense of humor. She died unexpectedly at the age of 61, at a time when she was getting ready to greet students for a new school year.

“Needless to say this is a loss for us and the larger school community, as Ms. Frye has touched so many lives in her many years of teaching,” wrote Ashlawn’s new principle, Judy Apostolico-Buck, in a letter to parents.

“I know the strength of the Ashlawn community will sustain us at this difficult time,” Apostolico-Buck wrote. “Please be assured we are working diligently to ensure the fifth grade will be off to a good start this year, despite our loss.”

The school will have counselors available to students or families that would like assistance, Apostolico-Buck said.

Former Ashlawn principle Edgar Miranda said college-aged students would regularly come back to Ashlawn just to visit Ms. Frye.

“She took a genuine interest in them, not just as students but as people,” Miranda said. “She was a wonderful person.”

Frye is survived by a brother, several sisters and Matthew Lemons, her husband.

A memorial service for her Frye be held tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at Bull Run Park in Centreville. A private staff memorial was held on Monday.

Woman Dies After Fall From Ballston Parking Garage

By ARLnow.com

A woman fell several stories from the Ballston Public Parking Garage Thursday night, landing in front of a car that was about to exit the garage onto Glebe Road. The woman was alive when she was taken to the hospital but later succumbed to her injuries, police said.

The fall happened around 8:30 p.m. A police spokesperson was unaware of any witnesses other than the driver of the car.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the fall. Suicide is the most likely scenario that investigators are examining, we’re told.

The County-owned garage is located on North Glebe Road next to Ballston Common Mall.

Arlington Traffic Employee Dies Following Accident

By ARLnow.com

A county traffic employee injured in an accident on Columbia Pike earlier this month has died.

Matthew Pickens was seriously injured after a moving van struck his county work truck at the intersection of Columbia Pike and South Wakefield Street on April 5. Pickens, who was working on a traffic light in the truck’s hydraulic basket, fell hard to the street below.

At the time, it was thought that Pickens’ injuries were not life-threatening.

Pickens passed away on Friday, April 16. He was honored for his service today at a standing room only board meeting, attended by county government workers and members of Pickens’ family.

“We are saddened by the tragic loss of Matthew. He was a dedicated public servant, valued colleague and a dear friend to many,” Acting County Manager Barbara Donnellan said. “We need to remember that men and women, like Matthew, are behind the scenes working every day under hazardous conditions, to provide our community with the services it needs to run smoothly.”

Pickens was a military veteran who served 15 years in the U.S. Army.

A police investigation into the accident is still ongoing, the county said in a statement.

Death Investigation in Roosevelt Island Parking Lot

By ARLnow.com

U.S. Park Police have cordoned off the section of the Mt. Vernon Trail that runs through the Roosevelt Island parking lot due to a death investigation.

Preliminary reports suggest the victim committed suicide with a firearm. Right now it’s unclear whether anybody who was on the busy stretch of trail at the time witnessed the shooting.

The deceased individual’s identity has not been released.