Pedestrian killed in school bus accident in Annandale
A dangerous intersection. |
A man struck by a Fairfax
County school bus in Annandale has died, the Mason Police District reported Sept.
21. Falls Church High School students were on the bus
at the time of the accident.
Joon Seok Ahn, 89, of 6925
Columbia Pike, was walking westbound and entered the crosswalk at Columbia
Pike/Gallows Road around 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20, when the bus, which had been
stopped in the southbound turn lanes of Gallows, moved forward and struck him. Ahn
was transported to a local hospital where he later died. He had been returning to his home at the Evergreen House, an independent-living facility for seniors.
Columbia Pike, was walking westbound and entered the crosswalk at Columbia
Pike/Gallows Road around 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20, when the bus, which had been
stopped in the southbound turn lanes of Gallows, moved forward and struck him. Ahn
was transported to a local hospital where he later died. He had been returning to his home at the Evergreen House, an independent-living facility for seniors.
The driver of the bus,
Cristinia Fernandez, 40, of 14835 Bodley St., in Centreville, was charged with
failure to pay attention. She had been driving Fairfax County schoolbuses for 11 years, said FCPS spokesperson John Torre. Speed and alcohol are not considered factors in the
crash. The police are continuing to investigate.
Cristinia Fernandez, 40, of 14835 Bodley St., in Centreville, was charged with
failure to pay attention. She had been driving Fairfax County schoolbuses for 11 years, said FCPS spokesperson John Torre. Speed and alcohol are not considered factors in the
crash. The police are continuing to investigate.
So tragic…has always been a bad place to cross the street despite crosswalks. Drivers fail to yield to someone in the crosswalk and many times do not stop before turning right from Columbia Pike onto Gallows. There never is a time when all traffic is at a stop. Especially bad with a retirement community behind the Methodist Church and seniors wishing to walk. Wonder if VDOT might review that location?
Is it really necessary to publish the driver's address? The investigation is not over, so until it is, she deserves some privacy.
Is Mr. Ahn the man who shuffled along with a cain? I have seen him get caught out in the intersection a few times. That is a terrible spot especially when you factor in the people trying to make the turns at Evergreen across from Bloom.
Its awkward to see this here since I attend FC. We all found out the next day when the principal told us. It turns out that, surprisingly, word hadn't spread. All of us, especially the students on that bus, feel very bad for that poor man.
I think its time to somehow reconfigure that intersection to make it safer for pedestrians. We need some leadership from our supervisor. Let's hope she's on it.
What was the news truck doing there again today in the Bloom parking lot with its microwave pole up as if it was going to broadcast? What is the story? Just a tragedy…I'm curious.
Condolences to this gentlemans family and friends.