pedestrian struck

BREAKING NEWS — Metrobus Hits Cyclist on Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com

A bicyclist was struck by a Metrobus at the intersection of S. Glebe Road and Lang Street this morning.

The bus was traveling eastbound around 9:15 a.m. when it apparently struck the cyclist in or near the intersection. The cyclist suffered a head injury but was conscious when he was loaded into an ambulance and brought to the hospital.

Impact damage was visible on the Metrobus’ windshield.

Arlington County police and Metro personnel were taking photos and measurements of the scene following the accident. Traffic on S. Glebe Road was snarled as police blocked blocked one and periodically both lanes during the investigation.

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Jogger Struck By Car in N. Arlington

By ARLnow.com

A female jogger was struck by a car in the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Lorcom Lane on Sunday, a tipster tells ARLnow.com.

The accident, which involved the pedestrian and 3-4 vehicles, was first reported around 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, according to police radio traffic. The woman was lifted onto the striking vehicle’s windshield but only suffered a broken wrist and other minor injuries, said the tipster. At least one of the drivers also suffered minor injuries.

The intersection was shut down temporarily following the accident. We’re told the jogger and a driver were both taken to the hospital.

An Arlington County Fire Department spokesman was not immediately able to confirm any details about the incident.

Man in Wheelchair Struck by Car on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

A man in a wheelchair was struck by a car on Lee Highway in Cherrydale last night.

The accident happened around 9:40 p.m., as a political debate was letting out at the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department. The man’s injuries were not reported to be serious or life-threatening.

The following was sent to members of the Cherrydale neighborhood listserv early this morning.

Right after the debate, around 9:40 PM a disabled neighbor from the Cherrydale Rehabilitation Center was struck while wheeling across Lee hwy. He was conscious and not bleeding when we arrived.

Of note, it was dark, raining, 2 street lights were out (on either corner between the hardware store and Safeway), the victim was wearing dark clothes, in a dark red wheelchair, and he was crossing where there was no cross walk, i.e. from the NW backside of Safeway crossing to Oakland, which works out a little diagonal. He was struck by a car heading west. It does not appear she was speeding.

I believe [REDACTED] and others have complained to the County that this is not a safe crossing area.

It is simply human to take the shortest distance whenever possible. The victim was heading home from 7/11. He could have crossed at the official cross walk by the firestation but that’s a long light. So it seems to me we need to recognize the human need to travel the shortest distance. Put in another crosswalk. Keep it well lighted. Probably other good ideas are out there as well.

I put in a call to Shannon Flanagan Watson at the County Manager’s office. I’m sure she’ll get back to us shortly and I’ll keep you posted.

Our own Cherrydale Vol Fire Dept volunteers were first on the scene. Cherrydale Rehab employees were very supportive. I’ll keep you all posted on how he is doing.

BREAKING NEWS — Pedestrian Dead After I-395 Accident

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 7:20 p.m.) A pedestrian was struck and killed on northbound I-395 near Glebe Road this afternoon, according to Virginia State Police.

The fatal accident happened just after 4:00 p.m. Police say a man had crossed all southbound and HOV lanes of I-395, and was in the midst of crossing the northbound lanes when he was struck.

The victim, identified by police as 64-year-old Arlington resident Fekadu Ledi, was hit by a car in the far right lane. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

All lanes have reopened at the accident scene. The accident caused significant rush hour delays on I-395 and Glebe Road, as police shut down all but one northbound lane of I-395, as well as a heavily-traveled ramp from Glebe Road.

Child Struck By Vehicle on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

A child has been struck by a vehicle on the 6800 block of Lee Highway, in the East Falls Church/Westlee area.

Initial reports suggest the child is alert and conscious, but may have several broken bones. The vehicle that struck the child reportedly left the scene but has since returned.

Westbound Lee Highway is closed due to the emergency response.

ACPD Seeking Information on Hit-and-Run Truck

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police think that a delivery truck may have been the vehicle that struck and killed 23-year-old Zorigoo Munkhbayar on Friday.

Munkhbayar was walking on Route 50 early Friday morning when he was struck by a vehicle near the N. Rhodes Street ramp. By the time someone saw Munkhbayar’s body laying in the roadway and called police, the Arlington resident was already dead.

Today police revealed that they believe a 2005-2007 Mitsubishi delivery truck was the striking vehicle. Police say the truck “would have noticeable damage to the front passenger side and passenger side grill/headlight.”

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in solving the crime.

“Police ask that anyone who may have seen a man walking on eastbound Route 50, or witnessed the accident, contact Detective Paul Marseilles at (703) 228-4237,” police said in a statement. “Detective Marseilles can also be reached via e-mail at [email protected].”

The above photo, provided by the Arlington County Police Department, shows a truck similar to the model suspected of hitting Munkhbayar. See more photos here.

Teen Pleads to Reckless Driving in Fatal Crash

By ARLnow.com

An 18-year-old Arlington man has pleaded guilty to reckless driving after a crash that killed a 28-year-old woman and her dog near Washington-Lee High School.

Joseph DiFilippo pleaded guilty in Arlington General District Court on Aug. 25, prosecutors say. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, but the entirety of the jail term was suspended on the condition of good behavior and the completion of 200 hours of community service. DiFilippo is also required to speak about his actions before monthly driver’s license presentation ceremonies held at the Arlington County courthouse. Additionally, his driver’s license was suspended six months, the maximum allowed by state law.

“Pursuant to a plea agreement, three other traffic infractions were dismissed,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jennifer Clarke. She noted that DiFilippo had a valid driver’s license at the time of the accident, despite an initial charge of driving without a license.

Members of the victim’s family were present at the sentencing hearing, and testified about how the accident impacted their lives, Clarke said.

The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 11, as 28-year-old Arlington resident Alison Drucker was walking her dog across the Quincy Street Bridge. A statement of facts was not entered as part of the plea, but after the accident police said that a pickup truck driven by DiFilippo struck Drucker and her dog, Buckley, as the truck was traveling northbound on Quincy Street. The dog died at the scene and Drucker suffered a serious head injury. She died in the hospital two weeks later.

Prosecutors say the plea deal’s lack of jail time was a reflection of the evidence in the case.

“The charge brought against the defendant and the plea agreement which was reached was based upon extensive consideration of the evidence. Some cases are stronger than others and we are limited by the unique facts and evidence of each case,” Clarke said. “After consideration of the facts of this case, the case law which has interpreted and applied the Virginia reckless driving statute, and our burden of proof, we concluded that the plea agreement was appropriate.”

“As prosecutors, our decisions must be based upon the law and the evidence,” Clarke added. “However, as people, our hearts go out to the Alison Drucker’s family. The plea agreement should in no way be seen as a reflection of the great sympathy we have for the Drucker family and the loss which they have suffered.”

Meeting Tonight to Discuss Safety at Lynn and Lee

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington Bike Advisory Committee is holding a site visit and safety discussion at the intersection of Lynn Street and Lee Highway in Rosslyn tonight.

The meeting is being held following a number of recent bicycle/vehicle collisions at the intersection, which serves vehicles exiting I-66 and approaching Key Bridge, as well as cyclists and pedestrians on the Custis Trail.

“Arlington County staff will be on hand to explain and discuss future plans to improve the intersection,” according to organizers.

Anyone interested in attending the site visit is asked to show up at the northeast corner of Gateway Park, near the intersection, at 6:30 p.m. The gathering will move to the Continental lounge around 7:15 p.m., organizers say.

Bike Accident Involving Police Car Along Custis Trail

By ARLnow.com

A bicyclist struck an Arlington County police cruiser on Lee Highway this afternoon as the cruiser was responding to a bicyclist struck by a car a couple of blocks away.

The cyclist was heading downhill on the Custis Trail, toward Rosslyn, at the time of the accident. He struck the front bumper of the police cruiser as it was entering westbound Lee Highway from N. Oak Street, tumbled to the ground and suffered a bloody head wound. The wound was said to be superficial and the cyclist was conscious when medics arrived to treat him.

There is a painted stop sign on the trail just before the intersection.

It’s unclear if the cyclist was wearing a helmet at the time, but none was spotted near the scene. He was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital.

The police officer involved in the accident was responding to a bicyclist who was reported struck by a car at Lee Highway and N. Quinn Street, also along the Custis Trail. The cyclist in that accident reportedly only suffered minor injuries.

Cyclist Recounts Accident at Lynn Street and Lee Hwy

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) A cyclist who was struck at the dangerous intersection of Lynn Street and Lee Highway in Rosslyn is recounting her accident with the hopes that it will convince transportation authorities to speed up safety improvements planned for 2013/2014.

Erika, a 24-year-old Rosslyn resident, injured her foot after being struck by a vehicle in the intersection. The accident occurred around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, making it the first of three instances of bicyclists being struck in the intersection this week.

I was riding south along N Lynn (sidewalk/bike trail) as I approached the intersection with Lee Highway (NE corner of intersection). I checked to see that I had the walk signal, which I did, and that the cars on Lee Highway had the red light, which they did. The cars were stopped at the red light. As I crossed Lee in the crosswalk, someone tried to turn right on red and drove straight into me, knocking me off my bike and onto Lynn (where traffic was proceeding).

My injuries aren’t severe, but I’m still undergoing medical treatment. My bike needs to be fixed as it currently can’t be ridden, but I feel very lucky to have made it through that intersection alive!

I suppose it’s good that Arlington is planning to make the intersection safer, but 2 or 3 years is ridiculous. There should be no turning on red, or a dedicated turning arrow at a time when pedestrians do not have the walk signal.

Drivers really just do not look for bikers or pedestrians, so even if you’re following the laws and traffic signals as I was, you can still get hit.

The Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee is planning a “site visit” with county staff at the intersection on Monday, Sept. 12. The meeting, which is open to all who want to attend, will start at 6:30 p.m. and will discuss ways to make the intersection safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

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