The National Park Service will begin improving wastewater systems at Prince William Forest Park’s campgrounds this summer.

The work will require periodic closures at Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground and Oak Ridge Campground and the extended closure of Cabin Camp 3. These improvements will ensure that Prince William Forest Park can continue to welcome visitors to these campgrounds into the future, providing a convenient and fun experience for all.

The work will cause the following campsite and cabin closures:

• Cabin Camp 3 individual and group cabins will remain closed through Aug. 2.
• Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground campsites and amphitheater will be closed from June 20 through Oct. 27.
• Oak Ridge Campground A Loop sites A1 – A24 and the A Loop restroom will be closed from Aug. 1 through Nov. 16.

These closure dates may change depending on the completion of the project and factors such as weather.

The Chopawamsic Backcountry Area, Oak Ridge Campground sites A25 – A42, B and C Loops, and Cabin Camps 1, 2, 4, and 5 will remain open to campers.

Nearly 295,000 people visited Prince William Forest Park in 2022. The park sits just off Joplin Road, at 18170 Park Entrance Road, in Triangle.

The park’s activities include camping, hiking, picnicking, and bicycling.

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization 17.75K will take place Saturday, March 25 at Prince William Forest Park near Dumfries, causing some road closures and delays.

Over 3,000 runners will take to the 11.03-mile course at 7 a.m., with the last participant estimated to finish about 11 a.m. Significant delays should be expected between 4:30 a.m. and noon on the day of the event.

More in a press release:

Road Closures and Time:
The biggest delays will be seen on Route 234 between Waterway Drive and Country Club Drive. Closures and times will follow as such:

Pleasant Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
One southbound lane and one northbound lane of Route 234 will be closed from 3:45 a.m. until end of the event, estimated to be around 12:00 p.m.
Southbound Route 234 will be fully closed to all traffic from 6:30 a.m. until the start line clears, estimated to be around 7:30 a.m.
Event Day Detours:
South Route 234 traffic will be detoured onto Waterway Drive starting at 6:30 a.m. Traffic will be rerouted to Route 234 at Country Club Drive.

Parking and Shuttle Information:
Participants and spectators will be able to utilize several parking lots along Route 234. It is highly recommended for runners to carpool and park at the following parking lots and use the provided shuttles:

Route 234 Commuter Lot, 17300 Dumfries Road, Dumfries, VA
Quantico Center (Fettler Commercial Buildings), 3850 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries, Va.
Grace Church, 17100 Van Buren Rd, Dumfries, Va.
Secondary parking is available at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA.

The designated shuttles will transport participants back and forth between the start/finish area at Montclair Tabernacle Church of God before and after the event. On event morning, the free shuttles will begin operating at 4:30 a.m., with the last pre-event shuttle departing the parking lots at 6:20 a.m. Post-event shuttles will begin running shortly after 8:30 a.m. from the 17.75K finish area and return to the designated parking lots. Each bus will be labeled with a specific parking destination.

There are also a limited number of parking spaces at Moncure Park and Montclair Commuter Lot. Due to the closer proximity to the start/finish area, there will be no shuttle service to these parking lots. Therefore, participants who choose to park in these areas are expected to walk to the start/finish area.

There is no participant parking at John F. Pattie Elementary School, Washington-Reid Preschool Center or Montclair Tabernacle Church of God.

Prince William Forest Park campground guests have been notified and provided detail through the park.

A very limited number of entries remain for the Marine Corps 17.75K. Interested runners can register at marinemarathon.com until Friday, March 24.

The National Park Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire in Prince William Forest Park this month, potentially as early as March 16, depending on weather conditions. The planned fire will cover approximately 105 acres of forested areas along Scenic Drive near the Oak Ridge Campground.

This fire aims to restore ecological processes in the park and reduce hazardous fuels.

To conduct a prescribed fire, also known as a controlled burn, many factors must align and ensure public and firefighter safety. The prescribed fire’s timing depends on weather conditions within the required wind, temperature, and relative humidity parameters.

Over the past 24 hours, high winds have prevailed over the region. However, the winds will soon subside, and temperatures will warm to the low 60s on Thursday, March 16, 2022.

Wildland fire engines, firefighters, and the nearby paved roads create buffers and fire breaks to ensure the fire is contained. National Park Service staff will monitor air quality and smoke impacts. Upon completion of the fire activity, wildland firefighters will continue to monitor the area to ensure the fire is contained.

Park roads and trails will be closed as needed to ensure the safety of the public and the firefighters. Portions of Scenic Drive, Oak Ridge Trail, and Old Blacktop Road will be closed during the burn, and smoke is expected to be visible in the northern part of the park.

Police found a car believed to be involved in a shooting on the Capital Beltway we first told you about earlier this week, burned out near Quantico.

Shortly before 4 a.m. today, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, the Prince William police Department said fire and rescue crews found a car ablaze in a wooded area of Prince William Forest Park, off Joplin Road near Quantico Marine Corps Base.

After the fire was extinguished, police confirmed the vehicle, a 2010 Honda Civic, was the car the Virginia State Police had been looking for since August 25, 2022. State police arson investigators responded to the scene and are processing the vehicle for evidence, said a department spokeswoman.

The shooting incident began at 4:50 a.m. on Thursday, August 25.  Virginia State Police were notified by an individual calling in to say that his vehicle was shot at by the driver of the blue Honda Civic as both vehicles were traveling north on I-495 near Exit 52B for Route 236/Little River Turnpike East in Fairfax County.

The Honda Civic took the exit and then stopped off on the shoulder of the exit ramp. The other vehicle pulled in behind the Honda, at which time the adult male driver of the Honda stepped out of his vehicle and fired several rounds at the other vehicle.

The Honda’s driver then jumped back into his car and sped away. Neither the other vehicle nor driver was struck during the shootings.

Anyone who may have been in the area who recalls seeing suspicious activities and/or vehicles near/in Prince William Forest Park and/or Joplin Road between 3 and 4 a.m. today, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, is encouraged to contact Virginia State Police by dialing #77 or 703-803-0026 or emailing [email protected].

Runners will descend on Prince William Forest Park on Saturday, March 26 for the 10th Marine Corps 17.15K run.

Drivers traveling on Route 234 should prepare for detours.

Road Closures and Time:
The biggest delays will be seen on Route 234 between Waterway Drive and Country Club Drive. Closures and times will follow as such:

• Pleasant Road will be closed to traffic from 5:30 a.m. to noon.
• One southbound lane and one northbound lane of Route 234 will be closed from 3:45 a.m. until end of the event, estimated to be around noon.
• Route 234 will be fully closed to all traffic from 6:45 a.m. until the start line clears, estimated to be around 7:30 a.m.

Event Day Detours:
Traffic on Route 234 south will be detoured onto Waterway Drive starting at 6:45 a.m. Traffic will be rerouted to Route 234 at Country Club Drive.

It commemorates the year the U.S. Marine Corps was founded and is one of nine events leading up to the annual Marine Corps Marathon in October.

The event will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 26, and marks the first time organizers will hold the 17.75K run since 2019.

The course features an 11-mile run over rolling hills and winding turns in a densely wooded backdrop. The 17.75K starts and finishes outside Montclair Tabernacle Church near Dumfries, and sends runners on a course through Prince William Forest Park.

More than 2,900 runners finished the 17.75K run in 2019 and received automatic access to the Marine Corps Marathon, said spokeswoman Kristen Loflin.

For participants, the Marine Corps Marathon Organization provided information on access and parking.

Parking and Shuttle Information:
Participants and spectators will be able to utilize several parking lots along Route 234. It is recommended for runners to carpool and park at the following parking lots and use the provided shuttles:

• Forest Park High School, 15721 Forest Park Drive.
• Route 234 Commuter Lot
• Quantico Center (Fettler Commercial Buildings), 3850 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries, Va.

Shuttles will take participants back and forth between the start/finish area at Montclair Tabernacle Church of God before and after the event. On event morning, the free shuttles will begin operating at 5 a.m., with the last pre-event shuttle departing the parking lots at 6:30 a.m.

Post-event shuttles will begin running shortly after 8:00 a.m. from the 17.75K finish area and return to the designated parking lots. Each bus will be labeled with a specific parking destination.

There are also a limited number of parking spaces at Moncure Park, Brittany Neighborhood Park and Montclair Commuter Lot. Due to the closer proximity to the start/finish area, there will be no shuttle service to these parking lots. Therefore, participants who choose to park in these areas are expected to walk to the start/finish area.

There is no participant parking at John F. Pattie Elementary School, Washington-Reid Preschool Center or Montclair Tabernacle Church of God.

The event is one of seven in a series of annual events that lead up to the Marine Corps Marathon, held in Arlington and Washington, D.C.

Prince William County

Body found in Prince William Forest Park

On April 24 at 2:58PM, officers responded to The Prince William Forest Park located at 16675 Pleasant Rd. in Triangle (22172) to investigate a death.

The caller reported to police that while walking along a trail, they observed a body off of the pathway and contacted the police. Rescue personnel responded and pronounced the man deceased. The man was not reported to police as missing at the time of the incident.

The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy and determination of cause of death. At this time, there is no threat to the community concerning the death. The investigation continues.

Identified: The deceased has been identified as Michael Allen FERRELL, 61, of Triangle

A medical emergency possible factor in Woodbridge woman’s death

At 3:19 p.m. on Saturday (April 23), Virginia State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on eastbound I-66 near the 40 mile marker.

A 2016 Dodge Dart was traveling east when it ran off the right side of the road, overturned and hit several trees. The vehicle traveled approximately 35 yards from the road before coming to a stop.

The driver, Edward L. Miller, 79, of Woodbridge, Va., was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt

The passenger, Valerie F. Miller, 78, of Woodbridge, Va., was transported for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt.

The initial investigation suggests a medical emergency may have contributed to the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

Fatal Crash Investigation

On April 19 at 8:03PM, investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit responded to the area of Jefferson Davis Hwy. and Mt. Pleasant Dr. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a crash involving a pedestrian. The investigation revealed that the driver of a 2014 Volkswagen Eos was traveling northbound on Jefferson Davis Hwy. when the vehicle struck a pedestrian at the intersection with Mt. Pleasant Dr. Investigators determined the pedestrian was walking within the roadway, outside of a crosswalk, at the time of the collision.

The striking vehicle remained on scene and the driver was not injured. The pedestrian was flown to an area hospital where he died as a result of his injuries sustained in the crash on April 21. Speed, alcohol, or drug use were not factors in the collision with the driver of the vehicle.

Identified: The deceased pedestrian was identified as Leonard Ray BROWN, 58, of Woodbridge
The driver of the 2014 Volkswagen Eos was identified as a 22-year-old man of Annandale

Malicious Wounding

On April 16 at 4:51PM, officers responded to the Woodbridge Station Apartments located in the 13600 block of Hornet Way in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate an assault. The victim, a 35-year-old man, reported to police that he observed a verbal altercation between two acquaintances and attempted to intervene. At that point, one of the acquaintances, identified as the accused, struck the victim before retrieving a knife and cutting him on the face. The parties separated before the suspect fled the area in a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee prior to police arriving at the residence. The victim reported minor injuries. Following the investigation, officers obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Kevin LAZA. Attempts to locate the accused have been unsuccessful.

Wanted: [No Photo Available]
Kevin LAZA, 24, of the 1400 block of Ranger Lp. in Woodbridge Described as a white male, 5’9″, 180lbs., with black hair and brown eyes Wanted for malicious wounding

Aggravated Sexual Battery

On April 19, detectives with the Special Victims Unit concluded an investigation into a sexual assault that was reported to have occurred at a residence located in the 3400 block of Caledonia Cl. in Woodbridge (22192) between May 2014 and September 2014. The investigation revealed that the female victim, who was between 11-12 years of age at the time of the offense, was inappropriately touched by the accused, identified as a family member, during the above timeframe. In February, the victim reported the incident to police prompting the investigation. On April 14, following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Juan Alexis LIMA CASTILLO, who was taken into custody on April 19.

Arrested on April 19: [No Photo Available] Juan Alexis LIMA CASTILLO, 39, of 614 Greenbriar Dr. in Fredericksburg Charged with aggravated sexual battery and object sexual penetration Court Date: Pending | Bond: Unavailable

Stafford County

Pizza delivery robbed at gunpoint

3 cars stolen from rental car office

315 Garrisonville Road, Avis Car Rental, 4/24, 11:04 a.m. During an audit, the store manager discovered three vehicles were stolen. Security footage from April 21 shows a male suspect go behind the counter three times when the employee steps away. On each occasion, he stole the keys to one of the vehicles. It is believed the vehicles were stolen from the parking lot later that night.