Virginia State Police: The Fourth of July brings feasts, fireworks, and parties, but the Virginia State Police (VSP) is asking that it include focus and sobriety as well.  

The 2024 summer driving season has gotten off to a deadly start, with preliminary numbers showing 13 fatalities over the Memorial Day holiday, and an additional 25 fatalities in the week following Memorial Day.

 “We want to be able to say that this was one of the safest July 4 holidays ever on Virginia’s roads,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, VSP Superintendent. “In order to do that, we are going to need all Virginians to drive sober, avoid distractions, comply with posted speed limits, and buckle up.”

 VSP recommends that if you do plan to drink at a July 4th party, plan ahead for a designated driver or make sure you have a rideshare service or taxi handy.   Public transportation is also a safe option, if available. 

Party hosts are encouraged to serve non-alcoholic drink options and make sure guests do not drink and drive home from their event.

VSP will participate in the Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.), a national program to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries from impaired driving, speeding, and not wearing seat belts. The statistical counting period for the Fourth of July begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 3 and ends at midnight on July 7, 2024. VSP will increase patrols, focusing on July 3 and July 7, expected to be the busiest travel days.

During the 2023 Operation CARE initiative, VSP arrested 36 drivers for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and cited 2,051 speeders and 980 reckless drivers. 254 citations were issued to individuals for failing to buckle up, and another 74 citations for children not being properly secured in a vehicle. Troopers also cited 124 drivers for violating Virginia’s “hands free” law.  

Virginians are also reminded to follow Virginia’s “Move Over” law.  State law requires motorists to either move over a lane, or if that is not safe, slow down, for any vehicle on the shoulder with emergency markings such as flares, emergency lights, emergency triangles, or flashing lights.

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Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred Friday, June 21, 2024, at 2:29 p.m. on Interstate 66 westbound at the 46-mile marker in Prince William County.

A disabled 2019 Hyundai Tucson had pulled off the interstate onto the right shoulder. A 2018 Isuzu NPR HD truck, traveling westbound on Interstate 66, departed the right side of the interstate and collided with the disabled Tucson. The Tucson struck the jersey wall and was pushed approximately 400 feet along the shoulder.

Two passengers in the Tucson, Krystal Akers, 27, of Dublin, Va., and an 11-year-old female, succumbed to their injuries at an area hospital. The 51-year-old driver of the Tucson, of Dublin, Va., suffered serious injuries, as did a three-month-old infant in the vehicle. Another 55-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the Isuzu truck, a 26-year-old man from Hyattsville, Md., suffered minor injuries, while a passenger, a 23-year-old man, suffered severe injuries. Charges are pending, and the crash remains under investigation by Virginia State Police.

An accident on Interstate 66 near Gainesville resulted in the death of one person this afternoon. At 2:16 p.m., Virginia State Police troopers were dispatched to the collision scene on the westbound lanes at Exit 47, Prince William Parkway.

The crash involved a disabled vehicle that had stopped on the highway. According to initial reports, the stationary vehicle was struck by a second car traveling westbound. The force of the collision led to at least one fatality.

Emergency responders arrived promptly, and the scene was secured for an investigation and clean-up. The identity of the deceased has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.

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Shortly after 3 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, a Virginia State Police trooper responded to a stopped sedan in a northbound lane of I-495 near Exit 52 in Fairfax County.

According to police, the sedan driver refused to cooperate with the trooper’s attempts to move the vehicle to a safer location on the shoulder. During this interaction, a Jeep Cherokee struck a tractor-trailer that had stopped due to the sedan blocking the travel lane. The collision caused the Jeep to spin and hit the trooper’s patrol car, then struck the sedan and the trooper.

The trooper sustained minor injuries and was transported to Fairfax INOVA Hospital for evaluation. The patrol car’s emergency lights were activated during the incident.

The sedan driver, Erica D. Bernard, 43, of Albright, West Virginia, remained in the vehicle when struck. Bernard was treated for minor injuries and has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction, possession of a Schedule I or II substance, refusal of a blood/breath test, and improperly stopping a vehicle on a highway.

The driver of the Jeep Cherokee, Joanna F. Hatch, 35, of Arlington, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

Both Bernard and Hatch were taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Chase Andrew Bolender, a 16-year-old boy, has been safely located. The Manassas Park Police Department reported his safe return, canceling the previously issued alert.

The Virginia State Police issued a Missing Endangered Child Alert on May 17, 2024, at 3:15 a.m. on behalf of the Manassas Park Police Department. Bolender, described as a White male, 5' 7" tall, weighing 130 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair, was last seen on May 16, 2024, at 7:30 PM on Andrew Drive in Manassas Park, Virginia. He was possibly wearing a black jacket, blue shirt, light blue jeans, and black Nike shoes.

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Virginia State Police: At 8:15 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2024, Virginia State Police responded to the Manassas Regional Airport to investigate a plane crash. A single-engine Cessna was on the runway when it ran off to the side, struck a culvert, and overturned.

Onboard was the pilot and one passenger. Neither one was injured.

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Virignia State Police: At  1 p.m., Sunday, April 14, Virginia State Police initiated a traffic stop on a Toyota Sienna traveling east on Interstate 66 at the 17-mile marker in Fauquier County. The traffic violation was for no state inspection.

The Toyota refused to stop, and a pursuit was initiated. The Toyota continued into Prince William County, eventually crashing on eastbound Interstate 66 at the 45-mile marker. The Toyota’s driver, an adult male, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

An adult female passenger was also transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

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VA State Police Motor Troops will conduct the safety courses.

Virginia State Police are offering a free skills and safety course taught by VA State Police Motors Troops. The announcement follows the death of five motorcyclists on VA roads this week.

Five Motorcyclists Killed on Virginia Roads This Week

Fairfax, Va. – Warmer weather traditionally leads to an increase of motorists of all kinds on the roads, especially motorcycles. With that increased traffic comes the increased likelihood of motorcycle and vehicle interactions. Virginia State Police is once again offering its “Ride 2 Save Lives” motorcycle self-assessment courses across the Commonwealth in hopes of making those interactions as safe as possible.

This week, five motorcyclists have been killed on Virginia roadways (one in Alexandria, three in Henrico County, and one in Campbell County). Virginia State Police is investigating two of them, including one that occurred Tuesday (April 9, 2024) on Campbell Highway in Campbell County and one that occurred on Interstate 295 in Henrico County. The Alexandria crash is being investigated by the Alexandria Police Department.

The “Ride 2 Save Lives” self-assessment courses allow current riders the opportunity to learn and practice rider safety, how to handle hazards, special situations, interstate highways, curve negotiation and much more. The courses are conducted by Virginia State Police Motors Troopers in a safe and controlled environment.

There is also a course available in Manassas (Northern Virginia Community College – Manassas Campus, 6901 Sudley Road, Manassas, Va., 20109) on April 20th. To register, and to find additional courses, you can visit virginiastatepolice.eventbrite.com. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. All participants must have a valid operator’s license with a Class ‘M’ endorsement, appropriate riding attire, and helmet and eye protection. Motorcycles must be street legal and helmets must be USDOT approved to participate in this program.

Additional courses are available through October.

Virginia State Police press release): The Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred Monday (April 8, 2024) at 3:30 a.m. on Interstate 95 northbound at the 151-mile marker.

A 1986 GMC pickup was driving northbound on I95 when the driver ran off the road left, struck the guardrail, overcorrected and then struck a 2023 Kia Telluride. The Telluride was also travelling north. The GMC pickup then rolled over twice.

A passenger in the pickup, Nora L. Butler, 48, was ejected and died at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the pickup, Kenneth L. Combo, Jr., 59, of Leesburg, was seriously injured. Charges are pending against Combo for failing to maintain control of the vehicle.

The driver of the Telluride, Johnnie Robinson, 73, of Savannah, Georgia, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.