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.

More as we have it.

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.

Authorities said a woman was severely injured while walking along Interstate 95 near Quantico.

State police tell us:

Virginia State Police is investigating a crash involving a pedestrian and two vehicles which occurred at 8:45 a.m. Monday (April 1, 2024) on Interstate 95 southbound at the 148-mile marker in Prince William County.

A 2012 Freightliner Cascadia truck was traveling southbound on I-95 when it was unable to avoid a pedestrian in the travel lanes. The Cascadia was then struck in the rear by 2023 Ram 3500.

The pedestrian, a 66-year-old woman of Falls Church, suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital and then flown to VCU Medical Center in Richmond.

Neither driver was injured in the crash. Both were wearing their seatbelts.

The crash remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, a 48-year-old Woodbridge man was injured in a crash on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Virginia State Police is investigating two separate crashes that occurred Sunday (March 31, 2024) at 3:38 a.m. on the Interstate 66 Express Lanes (westbound) at the 56-mile marker in Fairfax County.

The first crash occurred when a 2019 Toyota C-HR lost control on Interstate 66 westbound, struck the right guardrail, overturned into the lanes of travel, and then ended up in the I-66 westbound express lanes. The vehicle also lost power.

Following that crash, a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, traveling westbound in the express lanes, was unable to avoid the C-HR, and struck the C-HR in the rear. The Range Rover then overturned twice into the median.

A passenger in the Range Rover, My Doan, 43, was ejected and suffered serious injuries. She was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the Range Rover, George Davis III, 48, of Woodbridge, Va., and a second passenger, Shamal Taylor, 40, suffered minor injuries. Taylor was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the C-HR, Jose G. Mendoza, 32, of Falls Church, Va., suffered minor injuries. Mendoza has been charged with driving under the Influence (first offense).

The crash remains under investigation.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) has unveiled a pioneering initiative to address the recruitment challenges law enforcement agencies face across the state.

The “Pathway to Trooper” program targets young adults aged 18 to 20 who aspire to become State Troopers but are currently ineligible due to age restrictions.

Applicants must be 21 years old by the time they graduate from the Academy. The statewide agency tells Potomac Local that the “Pathway to Trooper” program recognizes the potential of younger candidates and offers a solution by providing employment opportunities within the department while these individuals await eligibility for trooper training.

Under this program, young adults can join the VSP as Emergency Dispatchers stationed at one of the department’s seven Emergency Communications Dispatch Centers. In exchange for their service, the VSP will reserve a spot for these individuals in an upcoming Academy session, contingent upon completing all required stages of the State Trooper hiring process.

Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, expressed enthusiasm for the program, stating, “We are always looking at ways to get more interested, deserving applicants into the Department. ‘Pathway to Trooper’ allows young adults…to get their foot in the door early and learn about the Department while waiting for their chance to attend the Academy.”

In Northern Virginia, troopers in the academy make a $70,640 annual starting salary.

Participants in the “Pathway to Trooper” program stand to benefit from a $5,000 hiring bonus upon joining as Emergency Dispatchers. Moreover, this full-time, salaried position offers state health and retirement benefits and paid vacation leave.

Upon acceptance to the VSP Academy, program participants will be eligible for further incentives, including a 10% salary increase upon completion of initial training and a $5,000 retention bonus following basic training.

The program comes as VSP has increased recruitment measures. The agency has roughly 300 sworn vacancies statewide.

“The vacancies are being felt across all regions of the Department. To minimize the impact, we do our best to assign academy graduates to those Area Offices experiencing the greatest need,” said Geller.

Virginia State Police is investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash in Spotsylvania County.

According to Virginia State Police Sgt. Brent Coffey, the incident occurred on Monday, March 11, at 7:25 a.m. on Route 636 (Mine Rd), a tenth of a mile east of Route 1318 (One Iron Blvd).

Reports indicate that a 2023 Jeep Compass was traveling eastbound on Route 636 when it crossed a double solid yellow centerline, veered off the left side of the roadway, and collided with a tree. Subsequently, the Jeep caught fire.

The driver of the Jeep, identified as Henry L. Minor, 34, of Fredericksburg, Va., succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash. Minor was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident.

Additionally, a passenger in the vehicle, Kathy A. Watkins, 45, of Locust Grove, Va., also lost her life due to injuries sustained in the crash. Watkins, too, was not wearing a seatbelt.

Authorities have stated that speed is being considered as a contributing factor in the crash.

As the investigation continues, Virginia State Police urge anyone with information regarding the crash to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.

On Friday, February 23, 2024, the Virginia State Police will celebrate the graduation of its 140th generation of Virginia State Troopers. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the State Police Training Academy in North Chesterfield County. Governor Glenn Youngkin will deliver a speech at the event.

This graduating class is unique as it includes both traditional trainees and members of the Expedited Law Enforcement Certified Academy. The latter comprises experienced law enforcement professionals who have already been certified by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and have served at least three years elsewhere in Virginia, according to a police press release.

The new troopers underwent rigorous training, including over 1,300 hours of instruction covering various subjects such as de-escalation techniques, mental health crisis intervention, ethics, constitutional law, and public relations. The Trooper Trainees of the 140th Basic Session began their training on July 26, 2023, while those in the Expedited Academy started on December 28, 2023.

The graduating class hails from diverse backgrounds, including different states and even countries like Haiti and Jamaica. Upon graduation, each trooper will be assigned to duty stations across Virginia and undergo an additional six weeks of training with a Field Training Officer in their respective patrol areas.

Among the graduates from Stafford are Seth Andrew Chambers, Kevin Adam Darling, and Antonia Florentine Hamill. They, along with fellow graduates, will soon be serving their communities across the state, embodying the motto of the 140th Basic Session: “Out To Serve We Go 140.”

The Virginia State Police issued a missing/endangered alert on behalf of the City of Manassas Police Department on February 22, 2024, at 7:15 p.m.

Sultan Abdu Menfot is a 44-year-old Black male, standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. Menfot has brown eyes and black hair.

He was last seen on February 17, 2024, at 17:17 hours in the 6800 block of Frontier Drive, Springfield. At the time of his disappearance, Menfot was wearing an olive green jacket, khaki pants, and a black and white striped shirt. Authorities believe he is on foot and not operating a motor vehicle.

The  Manassas Police Department has expressed grave concern for Menfot’s well-being, indicating that his disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety.

Residents are urged to contact the Manassas at 703-257-8000 with any information regarding Sultan Abdu Menfot’s whereabouts.

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At 12:51 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024, the Virginia State Police received notification of a private aircraft’s emergency landing in Loudoun County. The incident involved a single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan touching down in the westbound lanes of Route 606/Loudoun County Parkway near Arcola Mills Drive.

According to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller, remarkably, the pilot, identified as 27-year-old Ahmed Awais from Florida, skillfully executed the emergency landing without any collisions with vehicles. The only reported damage was to the guardrail on the right side of the Parkway.

Fortunately, neither the pilot, co-pilot, nor any of the five passengers on board, comprising four adults and a 15-year-old male, sustained injuries in the incident. Promptly, both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified, and an ongoing investigation is underway to determine the cause of the emergency landing.