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Fatal Crash on I-66 Sunday Afternoon

Published May 29, 2016 at 9:10PM | Updated May 30, 2016 at 11:59AM

Update at 12 p.m. on 5/30 — The victim has been identified by state police as Craig A. Vanbrunt, 66, of Pendleton, Indiana. The crash remains under investigation.

Notes VSP: “The crash did NOT occur during the Rolling Thunder Ride. Mr. Vanbrunt was part of a group that had participated in the ride earlier in the day — but they had completed their participation and were headed out when the crash occurred.”

Earlier: A motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon in a crash on westbound I-66 near Rosslyn.

From Virginia State Police:

At 4:13 p.m. Sunday (May 29, 2016), Virginia State Police Trooper M.D. Hart responded to a single-vehicle crash in Arlington County. The crash occurred in the westbound lanes of I-66 at the 74 mile marker.

A group of motorcycles were traveling in the westbound lanes of I-66 when they came upon stopped traffic approaching the Rosslyn Tunnel. One of the motorcycles was unable to brake in time and lost control. The motorcycle crashed and its rider, who was wearing a helmet, fell from the bike.

The adult, male motorcyclist was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he died later Sunday evening.

State police are still in the process of notifying his next of kin.

The crash remains under investigation.

Dirt Bike and ATV Riders Rumble Through Arlington Sunday Night

By ARLnow.com

Published December 28, 2015 at 11:15AM | Updated December 28, 2015 at 11:56AM

A large group of ATV and dirt bike riders rode through parts of D.C. and Arlington Sunday night.

PoPville posted a video of the riders in the District’s NoMa neighborhood around 5 p.m. yesterday. It’s illegal to ride ATVs and dirt bikes on public streets in D.C. Adding to the lawlessness, the riders travel in large groups, producing a deafening roar of engines, and sometimes intentionally run red lights and block traffic.

In the PoPville comments, readers said they saw similar groups of riders crossing the Key Bridge and riding past Pentagon Row, in Pentagon City, last night.

An ARLnow reader said he saw 5-10 ATV and motorcycle riders in the area of Key Blvd and N. Nash Street, near the Rosslyn Gold’s Gym.

“Most of them appeared to be ATVs; several were driving without any lights,” said David Mitchell. “I observed them driving in circles in the streets, in and out of nearby apartment parking lots, and on and off the sidewalks.”

“At one point, the motorcyclists moved in and out of cars driving south on N. Nash and interfered with traffic to the point that motorists had to stop and wait for their departure,” Mitchell continued. “Frankly, it felt like a scene from the ‘The Wild One’ with Marlon Brando. I called 911 to report this activity and was told they had already received multiple calls and that officers had been dispatched. The motorcyclist left the area not too long after I made my call to 911.”

“It it did not feel good to know that these motorcyclists might be allowed to escape unpunished,” Mitchell said.

Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck confirmed that the department received reports of ATVs and dirt bikes in the Rosslyn and Key Bridge areas last night. No traffic stops or arrests were made by Arlington officers.

In addition, ACPD received a report of a dirt bike rider who skidded into a light pole and utility box on the 2100 block of Washington Blvd, near Route 50. A Fort Myer firefighter who witnessed the crash told police that an ATV rider picked up the injured dirt bike rider and together they fled the scene.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, Sternbeck said.

Screen shot via PoPville

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 21, 2015 at 9:45AM

Motorcycle Ride Arrives This Afternoon — The annual America’s 9/11 Ride will arrive in Arlington around 3 p.m. today. The ride is escorted by police and features hundreds of motorcyclists. The bikers are arriving at the DoubleTree Crystal City hotel and touring the Pentagon this afternoon, before departing for New York City at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

Arlington > D.C. in Home Prices — The median home sale price in Arlington is now more than $100,000 higher than in the District of Columbia. A year ago, the median sale price in Arlington was $490,500, compared to $499,900 in D.C. [Washington Business Journal]

Preservation Board Delays Reevesland Action — The Arlington Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board has deferred consideration of changes to the Reevesland farmhouse until November. Arlington County is seeking to make a couple of changes to prepare the house for sale. [InsideNova]

Tablet Changes Coming — We’ve heard your feedback and are making some changed to the ARLnow experience for tablet users. Chief among those changes: full articles will now once again be displayed on the homepage if you own an iPad or other tablet. That change is expected to take place within a few days.

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Motorcyclist Suffers Severe Cut from Wine Bottle Tossed from Car

By ARLnow.com

Published August 4, 2015 at 1:30PM

A man riding a motorcycle suffered a serious cut on his arm after someone threw a bottle out of a car window on I-395 Saturday afternoon.

The motorcyclist was riding southbound on I-395 near the Pentagon when someone in front of him threw a wine bottle out of a Lincoln Town Car.

The bottle shattered on the pavement and a piece of shattered glass flew up and struck the motorcyclist’s left arm, slicing an artery, according to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

“It was bleeding profusely,” Sternbeck said of the freak injury.

The motorcyclist continued down I-395 until he spotted an Arlington police officer on a traffic stop. He stopped and the officer applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding.

The man, a 41-year-old Woodbridge resident, was rushed to Virginia Hospital Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. He is expected to be okay.

“He was happy to see police lights,” said Sternbeck.

So far, police, have not been able to track down the Town Car from which the bottle was thrown.

Now Open: La Moto Washington, Your Source for Italian Motorbikes

Published July 7, 2015 at 7:00AM

La Moto Washington, located in the heart of Arlington, and a short walk from the Clarendon Metro, is the official flagship store for Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi.

Whether you are new to riding, or simply want to add utility and excitement to your morning commute, La Moto Washington has a vehicle to suit your riding level and interests. For the expert rider and track enthusiast, our knowledgeable staff can set you up with a test ride on the Aprilia of your choice.

With financing rates at low at 3.9%, in combination with factory cash incentives, it has never been easier to ride. Come by and see us today!

The preceding post was written and sponsored by La Moto Washington

Motorcyclist Hurt in Crash Near Lee-Harrison Shopping Center

By ARLnow.com

Published May 18, 2015 at 5:30PM

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash in front of the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center over the weekend.

The incident happened just before 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, on Harrison Street. There’s no official word yet on the exact circumstances of the crash, but police say a blue SUV was involved.

The man riding the motorcycle could not get up and remained down in the middle of the roadway following the wreck. A nurse who was in the area rendered aid before police and medics arrived on scene, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The man suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries, Sternbeck said, and was transported to the Level 1 trauma center at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Motorcyclist Dies in Crash

By ARLnow.com

Published October 7, 2014 at 2:15PM

Virginia State Police is investigating a crash that killed a motorcyclist early Sunday morning.

Police were called to Washington Blvd near I-395 at 2:20 a.m. for reports of a single-vehicle crash. When police arrived on the scene they found the victim’s motorcycle, but not the driver. After a search, 27-year-old Joel A. Morales of Woodbridge was found in a nearby wooded area. He died at the scene.

Police believe Morales was driving westbound on Washington Blvd from the I-395 off ramp when he apparently struck a jersey barrier. He was thrown from his motorcycle and landed below the overpass in the wooded area. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Arlington County police assisted VSP with traffic control and security when the road had to be shut down to investigate the accident scene. VSP continues to investigate the cause of the crash.

Police: Naked Biker Crashes into Cars, Runs Through Woods

By ARLnow.com

Published August 19, 2014 at 11:00AM | Updated December 23, 2021 at 2:44PM

(Updated at 2:45 p.m. on 12/23/21) A drunk and naked man on a motorcycle crashed into two cars and ran into the woods in the Arlington Village area Friday night, according to a police report.

The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. The nude biker struck two cars on the 1600 block of S. Barton Street, near Columbia Pike, before fleeing on foot into a wooded area, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Arlington resident Roland [Redacted], 42, was located by officers a short distance from the scene — residents told ARLnow.com he was found on S. Edgewood Street — and taken into custody. He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries before being locked up at the Arlington County jail, police said.

[Redacted] has been charged with felony hit and run, indecent exposure, DUI, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving while revoked.

This is the second time this summer an alleged naked and intoxicated driver crashed a vehicle in Arlington and tried to flee. In June, a bar crawl attendee in Clarendon was accused of stripping naked and leading police on a brief car chase that ended with a wreck on Wilson Blvd.

Photo courtesy anonymous. Hat tip to Brendan L.

Motorcycle Wreck Seriously Injures One

By ARLnow.com

Published July 17, 2014 at 12:30PM | Updated July 11, 2017 at 4:44PM

A single-vehicle wreck involving a motorcycle sent one person to the hospital with significant injuries this morning.

The accident was reported around 5:30 a.m. at the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Little Falls Road. Witnesses say the motorcyclist hit a curb and then hit the pavement, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Marchegiani.

Medics responded and transported the biker, who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, to the trauma center at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Marchegiani said.

Glebe Road was shut down in both directions for part of the morning commute while police investigated the crash. It’s suspected that the motorcyclist was driving under the influence, according to Arlington police spokesman Lt. Kip Malcolm.

File photo

Motorcycle Crash on Arlington Ridge Road

By ARLnow.com

Published April 11, 2014 at 3:15PM

A woman escaped serious injuries after crashing her motorcycle on S. Arlington Ridge Road.

The accident happened around noon today. The woman somehow lost control of her motorcycle as she was riding down the 1100 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road, crashing into the front of a parked car. She and the motorcycle both came to rest in some woods adjacent to the car.

The woman was transported by ambulance to George Washington University hospital but her injuries are said to be minor.

9/11 Ride Passing Through Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published August 16, 2013 at 2:40PM

The annual America’s 9/11 Ride is passing through Arlington this afternoon.

The riders are expected to head eastbound on I-66 around 2:45 p.m., before motoring southbound on Route 110 and arriving at the Double Tree hotel in Pentagon City (300 Army Navy Drive) by 3:15 p.m. In past years, Arlington County police have set up rolling road closures to ensure safe passage of the convoy.

The bikers started the day at the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Pa. They will spend the night in Pentagon City and will hold an event in the Pentagon parking lot early tomorrow morning, before departing for New York City around 7:00 a.m.

Photo courtesy edobson22207