Four fatal pedestrian crashes in a 48-hour period
There were five fatal crashes in a 48-hour period in Fairfax County, four involving pedestrians and one involving a motorcyclist.
Two of the crashes were in Mason District – in Lincolnia and Seven Corners.
“The last few days have proven deadly,” said Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis at a news briefing on June 19. He blames crashes involving pedestrians on excessive speed, impaired and distracted drivers and pedestrians, and the failure of pedestrians to use crosswalks.
On June 19, a man was struck and killed at approximately 3:40 a.m. while crossing Little River Turnpike at Southland Avenue in Lincolnia. The victim, Stephen Roberts, 73, of Alexandria, was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was struck by an eastbound 2018 Honda Civic. The driver continued for a short distance, pulled into a parking lot, and called 911.
Police arrested Claudio Medina Osorio, 19, of Alexandria. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and is being held without bond. According to detectives with the Crash Investigation Unit, speed could also be a factor.
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at about 6 p.m. on June 18 in Seven Corners. Sean King, 38, of Falls Church, was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
King was walking on the sidewalk along the service road on Leesburg Pike near Munson Hill Road when he was struck by a 2008 Prius traveling eastbound that left the roadway and crossed the curb.
Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in this crash, the FCPD reports. Police have not disclosed the identity of the driver or whether the driver was arrested.
Also on June 18, Jose Sorto Medrano, 68, of Annandale, was struck and killed while crossing Gallows Road at Strawberry Lane in Merrifield.
Sorto Medrano was not in a crosswalk when he was hit by a 2022 BMW X5 traveling southbound shortly before 9 p.m. The driver remained on the scene.
Preliminarily, speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors for the driver, the FCPD says. Alcohol is believed to be a factor for the pedestrian.
Related story: Pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run crash in Seven Corners
A fatal pedestrian crash in the Huntington area of Alexandria at about 1:40 a.m. on June 18 involved two vehicles.
Jerry Harris, 64, of Alexandria, was walking on Richmond Highway outside of a crosswalk when he was struck by a 2019 Nissan Rogue traveling northbound. A 2018 Toyota Rav4, also traveling northbound, subsequently struck the victim.
Three vehicles were involved in a fatal crash on June 17 at 3:30 p.m. on Richmond Highway and Mims Street in Lorton.
A 2024 Ford F-650 towing a loaded trailer was attempting to make a left turn from southbound Richmond Highway into a business driveway when the trailer was struck by a northbound 2023 BMW S1000 motorcycle operated by Dwain Martin Jr., 24, of Lorton.
Martin was subsequently struck by a 2023 BMW 430i traveling southbound on Richmond Highway. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced deceased. Both drivers remained on the scene.
Related story: Driver arrested for fatal pedestrian crash
During the press briefing, Davis noted there was a crash earlier that morning in Franconia. A vehicle had hit a pole and was blocking a couple of lanes of the roadway.
As police were working the crash, a reckless driver drove right into the back of a police vehicle with flashing blue lights. The driver was cited for several violations, including reckless driving and not having a driver’s license, Davis said. Both the driver and police officer had minor injuries.
Davis urged drivers to “watch your speed, pay attention, and slow down.” He urged pedestrians to always use a crosswalk, even if it’s out of the way.
Police officers handed out glow-in-the-dark armbands and pamphlets to pedestrians to get them “to recognize crosswalks are here for a reason and the signals are there for a reason.”