A man wanted in connection with a fatal crash in Nokesville has been arrested. On January 8, 2025, Prince William County Police apprehended James Francis Byrd, 62, of Woodbridge. Byrd faces charges of involuntary manslaughter – DUI related and DUI for his role in the crash that occurred on August 28, 2024, along Bristow Road near Windy Hill Drive.
Police reported that Byrd, the driver of a 2021 Toyota Tundra, had a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit at the time of the crash. The collision claimed the life of Thomas Spencer Stark, 63, of Nokesville, who was driving a 2003 Lexus GX. Byrd’s court date is pending, and bond information is unavailable.
The crash occurred at 6:24 p.m. on August 28, 2024, when Byrd’s eastbound Tundra crossed the center line into the westbound lane, colliding head-on with Stark’s vehicle, police said. The impact caused Stark’s Lexus to spin off the roadway and rest in a ditch. Stark was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Byrd sustained minor injuries and was also transported to a hospital for treatment.
Following the crash, investigators with the Prince William County Police Crash Investigation Unit issued arrest warrants for Byrd on December 11, 2024. Attempts to locate him were initially unsuccessful.
Prince William County government offices and facilities will be open on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Still, employees can take unscheduled leave or engage in unscheduled telework due to current weather conditions.
While the county remains open for business, residents are encouraged to check for the latest updates on facility-specific operations by visiting pwcva.gov/emergency.
Some county services may be impacted by the weather. Before visiting a county facility, call ahead or check the county’s website.
Several schools in our region have announced closures and delays for Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions. Here is the full list of updates:
Prince William County:
All Prince William County Public Schools will be closed under Code Green for students and teachers.
- 250-day employees and pay grade 13 and above report at 10 a.m.
- The closure will allow VDOT additional time to clear secondary and neighborhood roads to ensure bus safety.
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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved an additional $472,000 in federal funding to advance the Ellicott Street Sidewalk Project, a critical initiative to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in Occoquan. The funding comes through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, bringing the project closer to completion.
The project, which has evolved since its inception, will construct 675 feet of sidewalk along Ellicott Street, connecting Mill Street to Poplar Alley and extending toward Union Street. It also includes Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps and crossings to address accessibility concerns. The initiative aims to create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly connection between the town’s historic and business districts and the planned Occoquan Greenway trail.
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OmniRide has announced adjusted operations for Tuesday, January 7, in response to anticipated inclement weather conditions. Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) has also confirmed the suspension of all transit services on Monday, January 6, due to the weather, with plans to resume operations on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
OmniRide Service Updates for Tuesday, January 7
OmniRide services will operate as follows, weather permitting:
- Express Commuter Service: Buses will run hourly between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Service will begin at 6 a.m. from commuter lots to Metro Stations, with the last trip leaving the Metro Stations at 5 p.m. Rides will be free.
- Western Service area: University Commuter Lot to West Falls Church Metro Station
- Eastern Service area: Horner Road Commuter Lot (Stop #1) to Franconia-Springfield
- Metro Express: No service
- Local Service: Local routes and the East-West Express will operate on weekend schedules
- Connect Microtransit: No service
- Connect Paratransit: No service
Any further updates will be sent via Rider Express messages and posted on OmniRide.com. For inquiries, OmniRide’s Customer Service Team is available at 703-730-6664.
Due to inclement weather, Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) will not operate on Monday, January 6. Administrative offices will remain closed. Service is expected to resume on Tuesday, January 7, at 10 a.m. Additional information is available on the FXBGO! website or by following @FXBGO on Facebook.
Due to inclement weather, all Prince William County courts will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. This includes:
- Circuit Court
- General District Court
- Juvenile District Court
Residents are encouraged to check pwcva.gov/ei for updates on other closures and additional information.
Prince William County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed Code Red on Tuesday. Inclement Weather Employees are the exception and should follow their assigned schedule.
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Manassas Park Resident Jose Rafael Lizama pled guilty Friday, January 3, 2024, to felony Involuntary Manslaughter stemming from a December 2, 2023 crash where Lizama admitted to striking and killing pedestrian Justin Burns, 39, of Blackstone, Va.
Lizama appeared with an interpreter, and his lawyer stood before Judge Angela Horan and took responsibility for the 11 p.m. crash in front of Old Towne Sports Pub in Manassas.
During Lizama’s preliminary hearing in May 2024, Prosecutors presented evidence, including a nearby homeowner’s security camera footage that caught Lizama’s van traveling at a high rate of speed, striking Burns as he crossed the street in an unlit area of Center Street.
Manassas police crash investigators testified Lizama was traveling nearly double the posted 25 mph speed limit and said the foggy weather was a factor in the crash. Police also testified that Lizama was determined to be under the influence of alcohol by more than twice the legal limit of .08.
The plea agreement between prosecutors and the Lizama recommends a five year prison term, however the court does not have to honor that agreement and can impose up to ten years in prison based on Virginia law. Judge Moran went into detail to ensure Lizama understood that the agreement’s recommendations did not bind her. Lizama has a history of alcohol and driving-related convictions, which will likely play into Horan’s sentencing decision.
Kim Burns, the mother of the victim, who has attended all of Lizama’s court hearings, told Potomac Local News that she’s “glad he took responsibility and glad that [Burns’] friends and family don’t have to go through a trial,” she added “but it doesn’t bring my son back.”
Horan revoked Lizama’s bond, and he was taken into custody. He is scheduled to appear before Horan for sentencing on April 3, 2025.
Lizama has a history of alcohol and speed legal issues, including a 2021 charge of drinking in public in Westmoreland County, where he paid a fine and court cost, as well as a dismissed speeding charge where he was accused of exceeding the speed limit by over 20 mph in Prince William County in 2018.
Burns, a Manassas native, was visiting friends on the night he was struck and killed. Lizama was twice taken to jail and later released following the incident after the Prince William County court refused to keep him behind bars.
