(Breaking update at 1:35 p.m.) A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Herndon last night, according to police.

Police say the 22-year-old motorcyclist, Donald Baker, of Sterling, crashed near the McLearen exit on northbound Route 28. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Baker was operating a 2021 Suzuki motorcycle and accelerated when he lost control, struck a guardrail and was thrown from the vehicle, said police, who responded just before midnight.

Officers are on scene of a fatal motorcycle crash on NB 28 near McLearen Rd exit in Herndon. Driver of motorcycle was taken to the hospital & pronounced deceased. Preliminarily, no other vehicle involved. One NB lane on 28 open. Please use other route. pic.twitter.com/XupsH2PsaH

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 1, 2021

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the county’s Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543. People can also submit anonymous tips to Crime Solvers by phone, text and online.

Police said a preliminary investigation found no evidence of alcohol or drugs contributing to the crash.

It’s the 11th non-pedestrian fatality in the county this year.

Community Raises Money for Family of Hit-and-Run Victim — A GoFundMe started on Friday (Sept. 3) by the sister of Reston resident Andrew Willingham, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident on Fairfax County Parkway last week, has received more than $257,000 as of 7:30 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday). The money will go toward helping Willingham’s wife and two sons with expenses, including a future college fund. [Patch]

County Launches Data Hub for Reston Parks — “You can now access the latest information on urban parks and athletic fields associated with redevelopment in the Reston Transit Station Areas through the new Urban Parks Activity Hub. The new online hub is one of three components of the Reston Data Visualization project created by the Department of Planning and Development in coordination with the Park Authority.” [Fairfax County Government]

Herndon Police Chief With Rare State Award — “Chief [Maggie] DeBoard and Executive Director Dana Schrad were recognized by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation with the 2021 Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement Award…This award recognizes an individual’s conspicuous act or achievement in the performance of their duty that results in an exceptional and responsible contribution to the law enforcement profession here in VA.” [Herndon Police/Twitter]

Reston Contractor CEO Recalls Company’s 9/11 Origins — Reston-based defense technology contractor EverWatch Corp. CEO John Hillen says his life “is very oddly wrapped up with 9/11.” His experience in downtown New York City on Sept. 11, 2001 propelled him from Wall Street to the State Department under the George W. Bush administration, and his company now provides tools for defense missions that directly stem from the attacks. [Washington Business Journal]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Updated at 4:50 p.m. — All lanes and ramps at the Dulles Toll Road/Route 28 interchange have now reopened.

Earlier: All eastbound lanes on the Dulles Toll Road after Route 28 (Sully Road) in Herndon remain closed after a state police trooper crashed into a motorcycle during a pursuit this morning (Thursday).

According to the Virginia State Police, the pursuit began when a trooper tried to stop a motorcycle for speeding on the Dulles Greenway at 9:42 a.m. The biker had been going 84 miles per hour in a 55 mile-per-hour zone.

“The motorcycle refused to stop for the trooper and sped away at an excessive speed,” the VSP said in a news release. “A pursuit was initiated. The motorcycle continued onto the Dulles Toll Road where its operator lost control and crashed.”

Police clarified in an update that the crash occurred when the biker “pulled off to the shoulder and suddenly braked. The trooper was unable to stop in time and struck the motorcycle.”

The motorcyclist, who has been identified as an adult man, was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital to receive treatment for injuries that police say were life-threatening.

According to the VSP, the motorcyclist reached speeds of up to 130 miles per hour during the pursuit east on the Dulles Toll Road. He was wearing a helmet.

“The crash and pursuit remain under investigation,” state police said. A VSP crash reconstruction team is currently on the scene.

The Dulles Toll Road says all eastbound lanes on the toll road and the Airport Access Highway are closed as of 11:55 a.m. The Virginia Department of Transportation has also closed the ramps from north and southbound Route 28 to the eastbound Dulles Toll Road lanes.

11:55am update: All lanes EB on the Toll Road and Airport Access Highway are currently closed. Follow police direction for detours https://t.co/zlnZhiKquw

— Dulles Toll Road (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) September 2, 2021

All lanes EB onto the @Dulles_Toll_Rd are currently closed due to CRASH involving a Motorcycle. Traffic will be detoured from Greenway to RT 28 South. Follow police direction for detours.

— Dulles Greenway (@GreenwayRt267) September 2, 2021

Photo via Google Maps

Planning to repair the bridge on Reston Parkway over the Dulles Toll Road is underway after a tractor-trailer crashed into the bridge earlier this month.

According to a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation, the tractor-trailer struck the bridge and damaged its girder and the connection to its superstructure.

Since the bridge is joined owned by VDOT and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, both entities are devising a plan for repairs.

So far, structural engineers have assessed the damage and are in the “final stages” of creating a repair plan, Ellen Kamilakis told Reston Now.

“Likely, VDOT bridge crews and their contractor will perform at least some of the repair,” she said.

The bridge strike happened on Nov. 20. Since then, the right northbound lane on the bridge has been closed to traffic indefinitely.

Photo via VDOT

Eastbound Baron Cameron Avenue and northbound  Wiehle Avenue are closed due to a crash.

The Fairfax County Police Department urges motorists to avoid the area and use an alternate route.

No other information about the incident was immediately available.

 

A portion of Lawyers Road in Reston is closed to a crash, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The southbound lane of Lawyers Road at Soapstone Drive is closed. Commuters should avoid the area and find an alternate route.

Photo via Google Maps

A South Lakes High School student was killed in a car crash on Sunday (November 3) in Oakton.

Carter Smith, a junior at the school, was one of five passengers in the car, which was travelling eastbound on Stuart Mill Road around 6:30 p.m. that day when the car ran off the right shoulder and hit a tree, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Five teenagers who were in the car at the time were taken to local hospitals. The driver remains in life-threatening condition. The SLHS student was pronounced dead at the hospital and the three other passengers were treated for injuries that are not life-threatening.

Police believe speed may have been a factor in the accident. Preliminarily, alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors that led to the crash.

With permission of Smith’s parents, SLHS Principal Kimberly Retzer released information about Smith.

On Monday (Nov. 4), Retzer wrote the following in a letter to the SLHS community:

Our sincere condolences are extended to family and friends of all involved, and to all members of our community who may be hearing of this terrible incident. I will maintain contact with the family and share about funeral services as that information becomes available.The unexpected death of a young person is very sad and difficult to process and can have an impact on anyone, whether they knew the person or not. South Lakes will provide counselors and clinical team members tomorrow, Tuesday, from 9:00AM to 12:00PM. Students should gather in the Lecture Hall. We will have additional supports on Wednesday as well when all students return.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact FCPD’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543.

No other information about the incident has been released.

File photo

Brookfield Breaks Ground on $1.4 Billion Development — “Brookfield Properties celebrated the groundbreaking Monday for Halley Rise, a $1.4B project on the site of a 36-acre Reston office park.  The development’s first phase, scheduled to deliver in 2022, will feature 640 residential units, 450K SF of office and 200K SF of retail. The retail will be anchored by Wegmans, which is bringing its smaller urban grocery store concept to the project, and Pinstripes, a restaurant with a bowling alley and bocce court.” [Bisnow]

Metro Investigates Monday Train Collision — “The investigation into the cause of a low-speed train collision outside Farragut West is ongoing, including analysis of railcar data recorders, control center event logs, and signal system playback.  While Metro has not yet identified the root cause of the incident, investigators have found no evidence of a signal system failure and have ruled out “loss of shunt” as a cause.”  [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]

Annual Fiscal Year 2019 Report for Town of Herndon — Herndon Town Manager Bill Ashton presented findings and progress on different measures at a meeting in late September. The report highlights progress on major initiatives undertaken by the town in the last fiscal year. [Town of Herndon]

Early Bird Ticket Rates for Reston Home Tour Ending Soon — The $25 rate for the Reston Historic Trust & Museum’s annual Reston Home Tour is in effect until Friday (Oct. 11). The tour takes place on Saturday, Oct. 9. Regular price tickets are $30.  [Reston Historic Trust & Museum]

Photo by Dario Pipair/Flickr

Commuters on the Silver, Orange and Blue Lines should expect significant delays throughout today (Monday) after two trains collided between the Foggy Bottom and Farragut West stations.

Since 5:30 a.m. today, the three lines have been running trains every 15 minutes.  Silver Line trains are only Running between Wiehe-Reston East and Ballston. The Orange and Blue Lines are single-tracking between Farragut West and McPherson Square.

The rear-end collision happened around 1 a.m. today. Two train operators were treated for non-life-threatening injuries after the out-of-service trains collided.

Commuters should consider using alternative routes. Metro’s rush hour promise will be suspended on the three lines this afternoon.

Metro says the trails did not derail and no damage to Metro’s infrastructure was reported.

File photo

Lawyers Road at Drop Forge Lane in Reston is now open after rescue personnel removed someone who was trapped inside a burning car.

Crews extricated  someone who was trapped inside a car involved in the crash. Local fire and rescue crews said the person was conscious and was flown to an area hospital. The car was on fire and the person suffered serious injuries.

The Fairfax County Police Department urged motorists to avoid the area and use an alternate route. The crash happened today (April 13) at around 2:15 p.m.

ROAD CLOSED: Lawyers Rd at Drop Forge Ln in Reston closed in both directions due to a crash and downed wires. Please avoid the area and use an alternate route. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/2GuJbvREE7

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) April 13, 2019

This story has been updated.

(Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 3 p.m. to include new information).

A man allegedly assaulted a child, carjacked a pick-up truck and led police on a chase that culminated with a car crash that sent eight people to the hospital late Wednesday night. The suspect, a woman and five children remain in the hospital.

Brendan Stefon Vinson, 28, of Adelphi, faces multiple charges, including carjacking, speed to elude, two assaults on police officers and receiving stolen property. Police were called for back-up at the hospital as the suspect attempted to wrestle out of his handcuffs.

The incident began when the Fairfax County Police Department  responded to a report about a child being assaulted on the 6100 block of Early Autumn Drive at around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. They learned a man randomly knocked on the door of a home and hit a young child who was at the door, police said. The suspect fled the area in a stolen car that police believe was taken from Hyattsville around 6 p.m.

A flurry of events continued as the suspect crashed into a pick-up truck at Stone Road and Lee Highway and carjacked the driver.  Police believe he then stole a trailer and attached it to the pick-up truck. When police began chasing the vehicle, the suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Centreville Road and Frying Pan Road. He then rammed into a mini van in the intersection, sending five children and a woman to the hospital. One child was ejected from the car and flown to the hospital. The child remains in critical condition.

The suspect attempted to escape by foot at the intersection. As police caught the man, he injured two police officers in an attempt to ward off police. Both victims who were assaulted by the suspect also sustained minor injuries.

Police said they are still investigating multiple scenes relating to this incident. Police officers injured in the incident are recovering and expected to return to work, police said.

 

Photos via FCPD

A 45-year-old man has been charged with drunk driving following a fatal crash that took place in Reston on Sunday.

Fairfax Police issued a statement indicating the department is still investigating the crash, which took place at the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue and Lake Fairfax Drive around 2:30 p.m.

“A preliminary investigation revealed a 1987 Toyota MR2 was traveling south on Baron Cameron Avenue, approaching Lake Fairfax Drive, when it crossed the center median and struck a 2008 Porsche traveling northbound,” police said in the statement.

The driver, 45-year-old Jose Jimenez-Yapura, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested, as police said alcohol appears to have been a factor in the crash. He has been charged with driving while intoxicated. His passenger, however, later identified as 42-year-old Miguel Jiminez of Falls Church, was taken to the hospital, but later died of his injuries.

The driver of the Porsche, a 16-year-old, was not injured in the crash.

Police are still investigating, and said they are unsure if speed may have also been a factor in the crash.

 

Public Safety Forum Set for Tonight — The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station will hold a community public safety forum tonight from 7-9 p.m. at McNair Elementary School (2499 Thomas Jefferson Drive, Herndon). Police leaders will discuss the “State of Reston,” pedestrian safety initiatives and crime prevention, and they will introduce the community to valuable resources. [Supervisor Cathy Hudgins]

Morning Crash Causes Traffic Delays — At about 6:15 a.m. today, FCPD reported a crash on Sunrise Valley Drive in the area of Fairfax County Parkway that caused “significant traffic delays.” All lanes were reported open again before 7 a.m. [Fairfax County Police Department/Twitter]

Supervisors Approve Budget Carryover — At its meeting Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors approved $59.6 million in FY2017 carryover funding, to be used in part to fund reserves and infrastructure needs, along with other projects including the demolition of the Massey Building. [Fairfax County]

Review: ‘Disgraced’ Challenges and Chafes Audiences — The play about Muslim assimilation and identity in America, now being performed at NextStop Theatre Company (269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon) left a reviewer “examining [his] own life experiences and [his] own long-time, deeply-held progressive values and beliefs.” [DC Metro Theater Arts]

Fairfax County Police are still looking for a suspect in the fatal hit-and-run on North Shore Drive on Aug. 28.

Police previously released a picture of what is believed to be a yellow Ford Escape with possible front end damage on the driver’s side that is believed to be the car that hit Hung Soon Seo, 76.

Seo was crossing North Shore Drive at North Village Road about 5 p.m. on Aug. 28 when she was hit by a vehicle that did not stop, according to authorities.

Said one commenter, who said he witnessed the crash, on a previous Reston Now post about this incident:

We arrived on the scene immediately after the incident and my ‘significant other’ (a nurse) attempted to assist the victim.

Absolutely no excuse for the driver leaving the scene. Unless intoxicated there is no way the driver did not known (s)he hit someone.

That being said, easy to see how the accident occurred. Because of the angle and brightness of the sun we didn’t realize there was a person lying in the street and a couple of other people standing by her until we were partially through the intersection. Only a measure of luck prevented another accident.

Police released the following flyer about the upcoming search (below). Contact them and the information provided if you have any information about the incident.