Victim of fatal hit-and-run crash was a student at Annandale High School
The pedestrian struck in a hit-and-run crash on Little River Turnpike on May 22 has died, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.
Daniela Bonilla Betancourt, 18, of Alexandria, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a small SUV near Oasis Drive in Lincolnia. This weekend, Betancourt succumbed to her injuries.
Betancourt was in the 10th grade at Annandale High School, states a GoFundMe page. On the night of the accident, she had just finished the late shift at her part-time job at Taco Bamba and was crossing Little River Turnpike to take the bus home.
Detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit determined the driver of a 2007 Honda CRV was traveling westbound on Little River Turnpike, striking Betancourt as she was crossing Little River Turnpike from south to north in a crosswalk. The driver did not stop to assist or render aid.
As detectives were investigating the crash, Abraham Lincoln Samuel, 21, of Springfield, notified the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications of his involvement in the crash. Detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit charged Samuel with felony hit and run the night of the crash.
“We will never forget Daniela as a happy and sweet soul,” states Rhonda Betancourt, organizer of the Justice4Daniela GoFundMe page. Daniela came to the United States with her mother, Mibel Betancourt, who was searching for a better life for her and her family. The money raised will help Mibel have her daughter buried in her home country.
Details of the investigation will be presented to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for additional charges. Preliminarily, alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.
This is the eighth pedestrian-related fatality in Fairfax County in 2022.
People crossing at painted lines without traffic lights are regularly taking their lives in gheir hands, especially when speeds 9f traffic routinely exceed posted 40mph limits. Pedestrians need safer crossings with lights, and the speed needs to be a consistent max of 35 from the Beltway all the way into Alexandtia.
People crossing at painted lines without traffic lights are regularly taking their lives in their hands, especially when speeds 9f traffic routinely exceed posted 40mph limits. Pedestrians need safer crossings with lights, and the speed needs to be a consistent max of 35 from the Beltway all the way into Alexandtia.
So sad that area need major redevelopment. Safer crosswalks, bike lanes and serious sidewalk improvements.
So this was in Alexandria at the shopping center in Lincolnia, right at the I-395 interchange. Definitely a hazerdous area for pedestrians. And late at night.
Fairfax County has nothing to do with this tragedy and can’t do anything about it.
The “Annandale” connection is that she was a student at AHS. Why was she attending that school, when she is not a resident of Fairfax County?
They make a point of saying that they came to the United States for a better life, but they are going to use the donations to bury the girl in her home country. Apparently they don’t think the United States is their home. That suggests they do not consider themselves citizens.
It is admirable that the girl was working. I imagine she thought of this country as her home.
I wonder how long they have lived here, what country they came from, and if they plan to remain. In “not their home country”, as they said.
What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s a tragic death of a young person. Not time to troll or air your horrible opinions.
The comment you posted is not acceptable because it contains a strong swear word. Please take it down immediately, or I’ll report it to the staff.
My first thoughts about this tragedy are that here is a young woman, working at a new job, managing to go to school, and with her whole life ahead of her and she has it taken away at one of our most dangerous intersections. Crosswalks on 236 are few and far between, and even when they exist they require pedestrians to take a chance with their lives. I desperately hope that we can find a way to value the need for people on foot to move safely about the area.
My second thoughts are: some blog commenters continue to show their inhumanity and cluelessness. The Oasis/236 intersection is entirely in Fairfax County – thus the area was the subject of a zoning update a few years ago. The child was boarding a west-bound bus – further into Fairfax County (unless according to the previous commenters logic she was headed further west out to Prince William County). Her family wants to bury her back home – a home where she was presumably born and from which she migrated to the US when she was still a child. There are no statements in this article to indicate that they felt the US was anything but a land of opportunity for their future. Should everyone who is killed in an accident be required to be buried near the site of the accident so that it proves their commitment to the United States? Or maybe, just maybe, they have loads of family back in a small town someplace and they want this sad story to end in a way that that can give the extended family some peace?
I would gladly see the Annandale Blog convert to a non-commenting site – even at the expense of losing my own voluminous comments – rather than let it fall further prey to ill-intentioned commenters.
You are correct and I was mistaken: the Oasis Drive intersection is indeed within Fairfax County. I just double-checked and the Fairfax/Alexandria county line is several yards away (when you walk past the east side of the KFC, that’s Alexandria.)
So Fairfax County should be able to improve the pedestrian crossing situation there. I wonder what can be done, since it is already a controlled intersection with a crosswalk and lights and everything.
We don’t know if the girl was crossing with the WALK lights; she might have been jaywalking. This was at night, so maybe she decided there wasn’t much traffic and ran across 236.
Cars are supposed to yield to a person in the crosswalk, and I always thought that rule was true even if they are illegally crossing, but I’m not sure. But that’s a pretty high-speed multi-lane highway, so…..
I’ve used those bus stops and walked across that intersection many times myself.
To hit her, the driver would have to run a red light.
All four directions are right turn on red. Presumably after stopping.
They didn’t hit her and then turn onto Oasis Drive (which would be coming from the west), did they?
Has anyone pulled the police reports on this accident? The picture in my head is someone blowing down 236 (probably from or to the highway) and running her down.
Now I must ask, why is any of what you just said relevant to the situation? A young woman just lost her life and you’re too worried about where she lived, where she’s from, and where she’s buried. Nothing about what you said is relevant to what occurred and it’s a shame you were ignorant enough to post this under this article. Take your political think pieces away from this article and quit being a loser.
You ask why any of what I said was relevant. Well, I questioned whether the accident was in Fairfax County. That is relevant on a Fairfax County web site and people wanting the County to do something about the road.
I asked why someone who lived in Alexandria was going to Annandale High School. There are many reasons why that is a relevant question on an Annandale web site.
But my guess is that you’re actual question to me is about why the family does not consider the United States to be their country. I think it is important to understand the people who live here, and much of the article is about the family saying that this is not their home country. In fact, they are asking for donations so that they can bury the girl in her “home country”. I contrasted that with her growing up here, going to school here, and working here, and wondered whether she would have considered this her home and her country. This is a relevant question for many sociological and economic reasons, obviously.
I hope this clears up whatever confusion you were having. It all seems pretty obvious to me.
You’re just an asshole Chris. Stop defending yourself and figure out how to be a kinder person. We don’t need turds like you in this beautiful, diverse community.
He may be an asshole, but he’s not wrong. You’re super nice.
I think that the family of a person who was wrongfully killed deserves to choose how to interact with and process this horrible incident that no one could have foreseen.
That is fairfax county you dunce
Yes, I was mistaken. The Fairfax/Alexandria line starts about 60 feet to the east. (I had thought it was a block to the west.)
It would be nice if we did not call people names when making a point.
What is the matter with you? A young woman died rightfully crossing the road at a crosswalk, and you are questioning her citizenship?
Please moderate these comments!!
First of all that’s the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, and you are an idiot who knows nothing. Second of all the article makes clear that she WORKS in that area and was walking to take a bus to her HOME which is in Annandale. Third of all I find it despicable that your level of concern for a teenager’s death apparently depends on whether or not they are a US citizen.
There are any number of reasons this poor young woman’s family would want to lay her to rest in another country, but the bottom line is: there’s nothing wrong with whatever they choose–and why they choose it is not your business.
It’s absolutely disgusting that you want to create a controversy. Clearly, you’re coming from a place of bigotry, bitterness, and conceit. Is your ego so big that you cannot see the gravity of an innocent person’s tragic death? Your sickening disrespect for Ms. Betancourt, her family, and friends is noted.
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I would like to send my condolences to Daniela’s loved ones. I truly wish peace and healing for you all. <3
Hi Chris – I’m not sure why you used your post to cast doubt on an 18-year old girl who was killed instead of expressing some form of empathy or even frustration at the traffic safety aspect. For your knowledge, there are parts of Alexandria that fall within the Fairfax County lines. I also lived in Alexandria and attended Annandale High School years ago. Second, did you ever consider that maybe she’s being buried in her native country because she might have other family members, grandparents, buried at that location? Are you Native American or part of any Native American tribe? Because if you’re not, then you, too, are not “native” to the US. Have a great day.
Youre an idiot. Alexandria is in fairfax county. Alexandria City is not. Furthermore, her mother wanted her here…she loved being back home. Her mother thought shed have a better life here and then they get here and theres ignorant people like you. RIP BABY DANI
How many pedestrian fatalities will it take to make serious changes to transportation around here? Northern VA is far too populated for this nonsensical automobile-oriented landscape. We need effective transportation alternatives that make our roads safer. If we continue to believe that lowering speed limits and perpetually funding traffic safety information campaigns are sensible responses then we are just wasting time and resources. VDOT is a major barrier, but something has to give.
Build rapid transit in Fairfax County. Build transit-oriented development in Fairfax County.
This intersection was ‘improved’ several years ago by VDOT. Massive fail on all fronts. Allowing westbound cars on Duke Street to make a left into the plaza was totally unnecessary when they only need to go 300 more feet to get to a proper left turn. Introducing a pedestrian crossing at that midpoint was even worse. Cars going eastbound on Duke St. are both accelerating for the on ramp and cutting from left to right to get to the ramp, plus they have to be cognizant of possible left hand turns and pedestrians. The left hand turn lane from Westbound Duke St. and the pedestrian crossing should be eliminated. A safe pedestrian pathway should be built from Landmark Plaza to the Beauregard intersection so they can cross at that location, along with cars make the left. Yes, we all need to ‘slow down,’ but this intersection of a major highway and artery that is one of the busiest commuter routes is not the place to interject bad design and endanger pedestrians and drivers.
Look at a map – both shopping centers are in Fairfax County, as is the intersection. Which has a dedicated light for the crosswalk (Oasis does not connect with the shopping center). It’s still very dangerous and needs to be looked at, and I believe is part of that survey that’s going on for Little River Turnpike.
The County line is on the east side of the KFC. (I was wrong in my post – thought it was Beauregard).
Someone above suggested getting rid of the Oasis intersection. The reason you can’t do that is because otherwise there is no legal access to the hotel (and I think there’s some other development hidden back there). You can’t have people driving through the private property of the shopping center parking lot. (Even though that’s what I do half the time when I go to the IHOP).
You could use eminent domain to eliminate the intersection and re-route Oasis over what is currently the parking lot. (Is that how it was done at the plaza over in Springfield?)
The easier way to fix it maybe is to move the bus stop to Beauregard. I don’t think that should impede the traffic any worse than the Oasis one.
Which side of Beauregard, is the question. It might be easier to do it on the west side. There are plenty of existing controlled crosswalks on Beauregard, and already one across 236 there. (And the south access road is very low traffic.)
You sill need to do some eminent domain to place the bus stops, but it might be more feasible than routing Oasis Drive.
I don’t know why the transit planners didn’t do that in the recent “improvements”. (One wonders what the thinking was about placing these bus stops by Oasis in the first place.) I assume they know more than we do about how to design these things.
Extremely tragic event. My heart weeps for this young woman and her family.
Yes, much must be done, and I expect will be done over the future, to improve this area — with the redevelopment of the former Landmark Center and the expected launch of bus rapid transit to this area.
And yet, no future actions will bring back to life this young woman or relieve the pain and suffering her family.
My thoughts and prayers go to them.
Time to outlaw cars. They are simply too dangerous. Enough is enough.
Not gonna happen
can y’all like be respectful and not talk about the citizenship or shit because this is about her DEATH not her CITIZENSHIP. Like actually, it really hurts seeing y’all talk about that instead of her death (my family are close friends of Daniela’s family) We miss her very much since she was one of the nicest people i’ve ever met and she was very cool to be with. </3
Almost all our streets are designed and maintained by VDOT. These VDOT-endorsed safety enhancements should be in place on all our busy streets:
https://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bikeped/biking_and_pedestrian_treatments.asp
Let Fairfax County know we need streets that are safe for pedestrians by offering your input to the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan and copying your county supervisors and Virginia legislators. ActiveFairfax – https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/bike-walk/activefairfax
Judging by this report and subsequent comments from readers, we could all benefit from some more humanity among our neighbors, and better highway & street design by our governments. Design cities for pedestrians. Cars ruin cities.
It’s the suburbs.
Redeveloping this area to make it safe for pedestrians is the only solution, so as to prevent tragic events such as this from happening. I hope that the plans end up moving forward with lincolnia rd CBC.