Pedestrian killed on Leesburg Pike
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| A screen grab from a video of the crash scene. |
A pedestrian trying to cross Leesburg Pike in the Culmore area was struck by a vehicle and killed at about 3:40 p.m. on May 18. Click here for a video of the crash scene from the Culmore Neighbors Association’s Facebook page.
Medardo Carrillo Arias, 71, of Falls Church, was pronounced
dead at the scene. He was not in a crosswalk when he was attempting to cross
Route 7 from south to north near Glen Carlyn Drive, says Fairfax County Police Department spokesperson Tawny Wright.
He was struck by a 51-year-old driver in a 2012 Jeep
Wrangler who had been traveling southbound on Glen Carlyn and made a left turn
onto Route 7.
Wrangler who had been traveling southbound on Glen Carlyn and made a left turn
onto Route 7.
Wright said the driver attempted to avoid hitting the pedestrian
but was unable to do so. She said neither alcohol nor speeding were factors
according to a preliminary investigation by crash reconstruction detectives. The
driver remained at the scene, and his name is being withheld because he was not
charged with a crime, although that could change later pending investigators’
final determination.
but was unable to do so. She said neither alcohol nor speeding were factors
according to a preliminary investigation by crash reconstruction detectives. The
driver remained at the scene, and his name is being withheld because he was not
charged with a crime, although that could change later pending investigators’
final determination.
How awful. I was wondering why it took me over an hour to get home, and what all of the hullabaloo over there was about.
Is that a protected left turn from Glen Carlyn? I go through that intersection quite often, but I only go straight or right….
I commute through there every day. The left turn is protected, and there is a crosswalk at the intersection (see google maps). The ped must have been in the middle of the block?????
Watching the video the pedestrian wasn't far from the crosswalk but i used to drive that route to work before i moved. So many people running across the street yards away from the crosswalk. Just surprising how many people don't want to walk those extra 20-50 feet to get to the crosswalk. They need to move the bus stops to the corners. That's why ppl cross in the middle of the road instead of the crosswalk from what i remember, most jay walkers wereheaded to the bus stop
It's time to think about lowering the speed limit in Bailey's Crossroads. It would not have made a difference in this case because the driver probably could not have been going 40 mph just after making that turn. Alexandria has lowered the speed limit on Quaker Lane recently and Arlington has some flashing lights at a crosswalk on Columbia Pike and S. Frederick Street, not too far from the county line. Bailey's Crossroads may have a lot of nice new sidewalks but there are not enough crosswalks. This is a very dangerous place for pedestrians. People are driving way too fast here. If the speed limit is 40 mph, you know people are driving 50 mph or more. You can't go more than 25 mph on Rt. 7 in Falls Church City or the cops will pull you over.
Broad Street in Falls Church City has a 25 mph spreed limit because it is narrower, more residential and much more densely developed than the area south of it. It's possible to safely cross Leesburg Pike/Rt. 7 anywhere in Fairfax County if you stick to the crosswalks. I've been driving on Leesburg Pike for decades and never had any problems with pedestrians or other vehicles. This was an exceptional situation and I feel especially bad for the driver who has to live with the memory of this tragedy. However, fiddling with the speed limit won't accomplish anything other than to provide the county with more revenue from speeding tickets. The real solution to preventing tragedies like this one is to intensively ticket jaywalkers.
The real solution to the problem is to put in a few more crosswalks. People will usually take the path of least resistance. The crosswalks need to be in places were people will generally cross, at intersections, not just at traffic lights. Jaywalking is illegal, but that doesn't mean people should pay with their lives. This is not a pedestrian friendly County.
Nice victim blaming, Anonymous 6:13. Jaywalkers are all victims. They're victims of a terribly designed transportation system, and victims of entitled drivers who think that cars are better than people.
"Intensively ticket jaywalkers"?
Are you indicating that the only valuable and proper movement of people is when they are in a vehicle? All other non-vehicular movement should be punished aggressively? Hmm.
jay·walk
ˈjāˌwôk/
verbNorth American
gerund or present participle: jaywalking:
"cross or walk in the street or road unlawfully or without regard for approaching traffic".
Victim blaming? If an irresponsible pedestrian steps out in front of a moving vehicle and someone points out this foolishness – that is victim blaming? Yes it is, but rightfully so. I make many mid-block crossings, but I am careful and choose wisely when to do so. Rt. 7 at Glen Carlyn, on the cusp of rush hour, would be a no go.
I take responsibility for my actions, whether I am a pedestrian, driver, cyclist, or public transport rider.
I cross near this spot every morning as I run-commute to work. The intersections are very far from each other in this area (0.3 miles), and the lights take forever to change for pedestrians to cross. Many pedestrians travel down Magnolia (because of the trail at the end of it that connects to Glen Carlyn north of Rt 7) which is right in the middle of the two intersections. Because of this, many people (including myself) will cross at the East branch of Glen Carlyn without a cross walk to get to Magnolia (and to avoid having to walk an extra quarter mile to get to a cross walk).
I was driving by at 5pm and had to stop at the light coming from Falls Church. I looked to my left and saw the white sheet soaked in blood. It was terrible to know that there was a dead person laying on the street. There was easily 300 people standing off the road behind the yellow police tape. Lots of teens that witnessed this. I asked one person and she said he was run over. I don't think the jeep could speed as there are lights so he must have made the turn and didn't see the person and the person was probably ran over which caused death. It was so weird as I looked around and thought no way someone died in car accident as you really can't spead. I read that this is happening often in this area. I feel bad for the 71 year old man that died as well as the driver. It's just a sad situation. On another note, this happens at 3:40 pm. I find it odd that this mans body was still on the street after 5pm
I had known him since I was about 8 years old (im now 33), I remember being in the church van that transported us every morning on sundays and we always looked forward to getting candy he would sometimes bring along, I remember his smile and how happy he would be on his way to and from church he wasn't a drinker or drug abuser ever and I even confirmed today with people that were much closer to him, -devoted husband and just trying to get by day to day working hard. I want to doubt he was jay walking before seeing the video, want to see turning speed enforcement laws into place as it can save lives just going slower and becomming more aware as it can save lives. I want to say as a driver im as careful as possible because I also ride bicycles in the street, I am more aware than many other drivers because of the dangers I witness while bicycling or walking within the dc area. How can this not happen again ?? Turning Speed laws?
I will be attending his wake upon notice. He will be missed dearly and forever, My condolences and prayers with the family and his closest of friends.
He was 71 years old and was probably using a shortcut to avoid having to walk a mile on the "designated pedestrian route" that would have tired him out. Poor road design kills people.