Another pedestrian fatality in Bailey’s Crossroads
The pedestrian struck by a car near Columbia Pike and Carlin Springs Road on Aug. 15 has died, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.
FCPD identified the victim as Solomon Zelelew, 39, of Alexandria.
According to detectives from the FCPD Crash Reconstruction unit, Zelelew was walking on a sidewalk at around 10 a.m. when he was struck by a 2015 Toyota Corolla traveling west on Columbia Pike. The driver went onto the sidewalk in an attempt to avoid another vehicle.
The driver remained on the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Zelelew was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead late last week. Neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors in the crash.
Lesson here: pay attention when you are walking on a sidewalk next to any road or street. This is tragic!
So scary to walk in the Mason District. I am always monitoring as well. This is so very tragic. What amazes me is how there are cross walks continuing to be placed in dangerous areas; i.e. Beauregard and LRT which trying to make a left turn as well as a cross walk at the entrance to 395 in same area. Who in the world thought of this. I almost hit a person entering 395 at Beauregard and LRT. It is so hard to see a person there. You come right on top of them before you see them or the light flashing. Who in the world would do this? Nuts.
We just picked up my husband's van from being fixed ($1500) after he crashed into the Pedestrian crosswalk sign to avoid a massive car pile up at the same intersection — entering 395 at LRT. It's a crazy place to have a cross walk.
Since the advent of the smart phone so many people are self absorbed in their own little world. I cannot tell you how many pedestrians I have to yell at while biking as they solely focus on their 3" screen. That is if they hear me when their damn ear bugs are not distracting them from everything going on around them.
I've noticed that most of the pedestrians struck by cars in this area are usually crossing streets in the dark (sometimes in the "wee hours") and are at least sometimes under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That DOESN'T make it any less unfortunate–especially for the loved ones of the deceased, and the driver who has to live with that trauma, too–but it does help explain at least some of what's going on.
That said, yes, drivers are distracted, and a LOT of pedestrians are just not paying attention either. Not even if they're crossing with children!!
Folks: please, please, PLEASE look where you're going and TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO DO IT, TOO. Stop. look left, look right, and look left again. Here are some more tips that apparently aren't such common sense or knowledge–USE THEM:
https://www.safekids.org/walkingsafelytips
No kidding, I think the parents are really dumb. Tonight biking home on the path by Ambrose Hills this toddler was running east on the path about 500' ahead of his mom. i almost ran into him and said to his mom as I passed her, are you nuts or what? People are just stupid. How can you let a toddler go on Columbia Pike?
after living in foreign countries for so many years – something is very wrong with the way American are thought to drive.
we can operate a vehicle to move from one place to another, but that is not driving at all.
Most of us are just incompetent of driving.