Pedestrian struck on Columbia Pike
A man remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 6600 block of Columbia Pike in Annandale on Sept. 12, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.
The crash happened in the crosswalk between Mason District Park and the Annandale Healthcare Center shortly before 9 p.m.
The pedestrian was struck by a 1997-2006 dark-colored Jeep Wrangler, possibly with a soft top. The vehicle left behind several broken pieces and is believed to have front-end damage.
The police are seeking information to identify the driver and are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
I have crossed at that crosswalk several times and it is always terrifying. Drivers never stop/yield and there isn’t great visibility for those driving down the hill from the intersection with Sleepy Hollow. Crossing in low light would just magnify all those issues. The county really needs to take a look at how they handle the non-car infrastructure in the area.
I have witnessed people running patients in wheelchairs across to the park. This is a very dangerous cross walk that definitely needs a light. I’m a driver and I am scared for them.
Prayers for the man who was hit. Driver should come forward – it was an accident. At least flashing lights, if not a stop light, is needed for pedestrians attempting to cross Columbia Pike to and from the park – (e.g., highly effective flashing lights at the crosswalk on Prosperity). Most cars do not observe the 35 MPH limit – they either rev up/race coming out of the 25 MPH of Annandale or stay 40-50 MPH as they head into Annandale. At night, it’s treacherous. Bright lights may also help.
Traffic improvement/safety on Columbia pike is being neglected. A teen was killed almost a couple years ago at the crossing of Columbia Pike at Tyler Street. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an allocation of $920,000 to fund improvements at the intersection on April 11, 2023. A pedestrian hybrid beacon was supposed to be installed there. But all I have seen asphalt road resurfacing and crosswalk lines are no longer there but the signs for pedestrian crossing are still there.
VDOT is the real menace here for not putting in a yellow blinking yield light which are sorely needed at highly used pedestrian crossings in Mason District. These are not a sure thing but they do encourage drivers to stop about 80% of the time.
And if FCPD would get off their duffs and ticket reckless drivers we would all be better off but they are stuck in time reeling over the George Floyd incident of defunding the police. I agree that the response of defunding was misguided but it is time to move on FCPD and DO YOUR JOB!
There is a lot of activity at that intersection. Between baseball games, soccer matches, concerts ( in the summer), there are many cars that exit Mason District Park. There have been numerous accidents each year given the absence of a light. There are also many pedestrians that cross Columbia Pike at that cross walk and similar to comments above, it’s rare that cars stop at the crosswalk to allow pedestrians to cross. This includes patients at the nursing home who like to cross the street, some in wheel chairs, when they are out getting fresh air. The intersection definitely needs some sort of traffic controls there.