Pedestrian Killed on Leesburg Pike — Eastbound Route 7 was closed at Redberry Court in Great Falls Sunday morning (May 16) after a pedestrian identified as 43-year-old Allen Romero of McLean was killed in a hit-and-run crash around 5:21 a.m. Police are seeking witnesses of the crash, which involved multiple cars but was initiated by a 2011-2015 Ford Fusion that lost its driver’s side mirror. [FCPD]

Fairfax County Libraries Stop Quarantining Books — As of Friday (May 14), Fairfax County Public Library is no longer quarantining incoming returned materials, a practice that started as a COVID-19 health precaution. Pre-pandemic circulation rules are also back, including a 50-item limit on checkouts and holds for physical items and a 30-day expiration for incomplete online library card registrations. [Friends of Reston Regional Library/Twitter]

Most Metro Riders Unlikely to Return This Year, Report Says — A new report suggests that telework, not fare prices or health concerns, might be Metro’s greatest challenge to restoring ridership levels as the transit agency expects just 42% of pre-pandemic riders to return by the end of 2021. About 60% of pre-pandemic rail commuters are not traveling to work at all, including many of the federal workers that compose the system’s largest customer base. [The Washington Post]

Reston Contractor Named Best Place to Work — “Reston’s Counter Threat Solutions LLC, a consulting firm for government agencies, was named one of the best places to work in 2021 by Inc. magazine…GuidePoint Security in Herndon and Glassman Wealth Services in Vienna were among the other companies in Northern Virginia to make the list.” [Patch]

Local police are still looking for the driver of a car who hit and killed Marvin Daniel Cruz Serrano, 16, of Reston in December.

Police said the vehicle was likely a sedan, according to witness accounts. The make, model and driver of the car are unknown.

The Fairfax County Police Department requests any with information to call the department’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-866-411-TIPS or by text by sending “fccs” to 847411.

Seranno was killed while walking across South Lakes Drive towards Castle Rock Square on December 31.

Photo via Madison Grace Shannon/Facebook

A Reston man was killed as he crossed a road in Fairfax around 6 a.m. today (April 9), police said.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, Ralph Johnson, 63, was crossing Lee Jackson Memorial Highway near Alder Woods Drive when the driver of a 2017 Toyota Highlander hit Johnson as he was walking in the road.

Police said Johnson was not walking in a crosswalk and that “alcohol may have been a factor” for Johnson. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver, who was traveling westbound on Lee Jackson Memorial Highway at the time, remained on the scene.  Police believe the driver was not speeding and alcohol was not a factor. The incident tied up traffic earlier this morning.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the police department’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543.

File photo

Fairfax County Police are still looking for the driver who killed a Reston teen who was crossing the street Saturday evening.

The victim was identified by police Sunday as 16-year-old Marvin Daniel Cruz Serrano, who friends are remembering as “kind and selfless.” The South Lakes High School student was struck by a vehicle while returning home from work at Reston’s Cafesano, NBC 4 reported.

“At about 5:40, officers responded to the report of a pedestrian hit-and-run crash on South Lakes Drive and Castle Rock Square in Reston,” police said in a press release. “The teen was attempting to cross South Lakes Drive… when he was hit by a vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There is a crosswalk at the intersection and detectives are still conducting their investigation to determine if the teen was using the crosswalk,” police added. Police are now seeking information that can lead them to the driver, who fled the scene.

More from FCPD:

Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit are asking anyone with information on the fatal hit-and-run crash over the weekend to come forward. 16-year-old Marvin Daniel Cruz Serrano of Reston was hit while crossing the street Saturday night, and the driver left the scene. The car involved was likely a sedan based on witness accounts, but we don’t know the model or color. The vehicle would have heavy front-end damage but still be drivable.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit witness phone line: 703-280-0543. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www. fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). They can also be sent in via text by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). Text STOP to 274637 to cancel, or HELP to 274637 for help. Message and data rates may apply. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1000 if their information leads to an arrest.

We are able to share Serrano’s identity publicly, despite him being a juvenile crime victim, because his family provided our detectives their written consent.

Map via Google Maps

The driver involved in a fatal pedestrian crash that happened in late May is facing a speeding charge.

According to a Fairfax County Police Department release, Michael Peter Fruitman, 67, of Herndon was charged with speeding 20 mph above the posted speed limit of 40 mph. Fruitman was issued a summons pending a future court date.

On May 21, Glanetta Miller Nunn, 71, of Reston was hit by a car and killed as she tried to cross Reston Parkway at Bluemont Way. Fruitman, the driver of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra that hit her, was traveling northbound on Reston Parkway. He remained on site as police investigated the incident. Nunn was pronounced dead at the scene.

Information about a second fatal pedestrian crash that happened in early June has not yet been released. In that incident, a 63-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed by a car at the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue and Fountain Drive. 

Photo by Fairfax County Police Department

A 63-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed by a car at the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue and Fountain Drive last night around 9 p.m.

The news comes as local police launched a pedestrian and bicyclist safety campaign in Reston this week in response to an increase in pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.

Police believe the pedestrian was midway through the crossing on Baron Cameron Avenue prior to Fountain Drive when a car in the right lane hit the man.

The driver of the Camry attempted to brake and swerve the car but was unable to avoid hitting the pedestrian police said.

The pedestrian was taken to the hospital and died from his injuries. His identity is being withheld until the family is notified.

Police are investigating whether alcohol was a  factor in the crash. Preliminarily, speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors, police said. The driver remained on the scene and called for help.

In late May, a 71-year-old pedestrian attempting to cross the street at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bluemont Way was hit by a car and killed.

Anyone with information about the most recent incident should call the police department’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543.

Photo via Google Maps

Following the death of a 71-year-pedestrian who was hit by a car in May, local police have launched a pedestrian and bicyclist public safety campaign in Reston.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District station will display information signs at busy intersections and step up enforcement of violations. The campaign began on Monday (June 4) and will continue through the end of the summer.

Changes in traffic patterns and an increase in pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents motivated the police department to launch the campaign, according to Sgt. Aaron Pfeiff.

“Historically the Reston district has seen an increase in pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents, and with the WOD bike trail running through the district, there are larger numbers of bicyclists,” Pfeiff told Reston Now.

Police will have an increased presence at “problem intersections” and intersections with heavy traffic from vehicles and pedestrians. Pfeiff said the department will also monitor the number of accidents at problem intersections. The police department was not immediately able to identify intersections that will be the top priority.

On May 21, Glanetta Nunn was crossing at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bluemont Way when she was hit by a car and killed. The incident remains under investigation.

Photo via FCPD

The man Fairfax County police say struck a 75-year-old woman twice with his car, killing her, is from Reston.

Kenan M. Ozcan, 31, was arrested Friday afternoon on Fair Ridge Drive in Fairfax after police say he assaulted a woman in a parking lot. Investigating officers noticed front-end damage to his vehicle and connected him with the death of 75-year-old Maria Ascencio earlier that morning.

Police say Ozcan, driving a 2016 Dodge Dart, struck Ascencio at about 10:15 a.m. Friday while she was crossing Rugby Road in the Fair Oaks area of the county. Ozcan then allegedly turned the vehicle around and struck Ascencio a second time before leaving the scene. Police say Ozcan and Ascencio had no prior relationship.

Ozcan has thus far been charged with felony hit and run for his role in Ascencio’s death, as well as with attempted robbery for the parking-lot altercation.

Ozcan is listed in a Friday media release from FCPD as being from Fairfax. Don Gotthardt of FCPD, however, tells Reston Now that the department’s management system lists Ozcan’s address as being in the 2200 block of Castle Rock Square in Reston. That may be a relative’s address, Gotthardt said, but no Fairfax address for Ozcan exists in the system.

Records on file with the State Corporation Commission show a taxi company, Capital Flyer Transport and Taxi, was once registered to Kenan M. Ozcan from the Reston address. All reviews of the business on Yelp gave it 1 star, including one that claims a driver named Kenan “flipped his lid” and “began yelling and spewing profanity” at customers, with the reviewer calling him a “mentally unstable, dangerous person.”

A LinkedIn page in Ozcan’s name lists him as a molecular biologist with a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree from George Mason. A GoFundMe page apparently set up by Ozcan in February asks people to help him turn his life around.

“Im a Virginia Tech Graduate, and I have my Masters in Biology, however I have been going thru some tough times recenetly and I am an ex-felon, I thought going to school would change my life and I could really use any support to help my life, I really appreciate it.” [sic]

In 2014, Ozcan was jailed after being found guilty of grand larceny following multiple armed robberies in Herndon. He was given a six-year sentence; however, all but 2 1/2 years was suspended.

Ascencio had three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, her family told DC’s WJLA.

Image: Kenan Ozcan courtesy Fairfax County Police Department

The Fairfax County Police Department is seeking suspects after they say a woman was intentionally run down by a vehicle.

The incident happened at about 10:16 a.m. in the area of Route 50 and Rugby Road. An adult female was struck twice by the car, police say.

“The woman was crossing Rugby Road,” said Tawny Wright, Fairfax County Police Department public information officer, in a Facebook Live video. “It looks like the car struck her, turned around and then struck her again.”

Rt 50/Rt 286 – UPDATE: Preliminarily this appears to be an intentional act. Suspect struck woman twice with car and fled scene. pic.twitter.com/9KSwBRvaEO

— Fairfax Co. Police (@fairfaxpolice) April 14, 2017

Police are looking for a black or blue Chevrolet or Mercedes-Benz sedan. The car was last seen traveling northbound on Rugby Road.

Rt 50/Rt 286 – Striking car maybe a blue or black chevy or merz sedan with blue & yellow license plates. Car may have front end damage.

— Fairfax Co. Police (@fairfaxpolice) April 14, 2017

Rt 50/Rt 286 – Pedestrian is deceased. Appears to be a hit & run. Looking for driver described as a younger w/m with sandy blonde hair. pic.twitter.com/zkamida6as

— Fairfax Co. Police (@fairfaxpolice) April 14, 2017

The driver is described as being a “younger” white male with sandy blonde hair. The car has blue and yellow license plates, police say, and it may have front-end damage.

Route 50 was closed in both directions in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Eastbound lanes have since been reopened, but may later be closed again during the investigation. Westbound lanes remain closed at Fairfax County Parkway.

“Traffic will be impacted significantly, probably for several hours,” Wright said in the original media briefing.

Fairfax County Police have identified the victim in a fatal pedestrian incident Thursday evening in Reston.

Police say 57-year-old Asress Gobena Lakew, of Reston, was attempting to cross Reston Parkway near South Lakes Drive at about 6:20 p.m. when she was struck by a southbound 2016 Jeep Wrangler. Lakew was not within a crosswalk when the collision took place, police say.

The 30-year-old driver of the Jeep remained on scene and she was treated by medics. Police say the Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to investigate, and they determined neither speed nor alcohol appear to have been contributing factors to the crash.

Anyone who witnessed this crash is asked to call the CRU witness line at 703-280-0543 or contact Crime Solvers. Tips can also be made by texting “TIP187” plus a message to CRIMES(274637), or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477) or 703-691-2131.

Photo courtesy Fairfax County Police Department