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.

Virginia State Police are currently investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash in Stafford County. The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 16, at 1:45 a.m., on Interstate 95 at the 146-mile marker, near Garrisonville Road.

According to Virignia State Police Sgt. Brent Coffey, a 2012 Nissan Altima, driven by Lord Elsun J. Warren of Fredericksburg, Va., was heading south on I-95 when it veered off the left side of the roadway and collided with a jersey wall.

Warren, the driver of the Nissan, suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Stafford Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. It’s noted that he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the incident.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities consider speed as a contributing factor to the crash.

Virignia State Police: “Virginia State Police is investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash in Stafford County. The crash occurred Thursday (Dec. 28), at 2:20 a.m., on the 500 block of Route 3 (Kings Highway).”

“A 2016 Dodge Journey was traveling east on Route 3 when it ran off the left side of the roadway, overcorrected, ran off the right side of the roadway, struck an embankment before it overturned and collided with several trees.”

“The driver of the Dodge, Christopher E. Lash, 28, of King George, Va., was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected during the crash. Lash died at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.”

A Manassas woman died on Interstate 77 in southwest Virginia, state police report.

“Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal one-vehicle crash that occurred on Interstate 77 southbound in Carroll County on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at 8:32 p.m. A 2004 Acura MDX, driven by Thomas P. Southard, 67, of Manassas, Va., went off the left side of the interstate and hit an embankment at the three-mile marker. The vehicle also overturned. Southard suffered minor injuries.”

“A passenger, Pamela J. Stewart, 69, of Manassas, Va., was ejected. Stewart died later at the hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt. Southard was wearing a seat belt. Southard has been charged with failure to maintain control.”

Virginia State Police: “The Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal crash that occurred at approximately 9:06 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, on Interstate 95 in Prince William County.”

“The preliminary investigation indicates that a black Toyota Tundra, driven by Lloyd R. Felder, 69, of Triangle, Va., pulled off onto the right, northbound shoulder of I-95 at the 158 mile marker [Prince William Parkway]. Felder then exited his vehicle and stepped into the northbound travel lane where he was struck by an oncoming tractor-trailer.”

“The tractor-trailer was unable to avoid striking Felder, who died at the scene.”

“The crash is being investigated as a possible suicide.”

A 25-year-old driver is in custody after a police chase on Interstate 66.

Virginia State Police: “At 11:34 a.m., Virginia State Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling east on I-66 near Exit 43. The vehicle refused to stop for the trooper and, instead, sped away. A pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle lost control and spun out at Route 29 and Linton Hall Rd. The suspect vehicle came to a stop and the 25-year-old male driver was taken into custody. The driver was not injured.”

More as we have it.

Thanks to the reader who tipped us to this story and submitted photos. Send breaking news info to news[at]potomaclocal.com. 

3:15 p.m. update — A Bealton man died in a plane crash on Sunday.

Virginia State Police responded to a report of a plane crash in Fauquier County. The crash occurred Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, at 3:54 p.m., near Midland Road and Ebenezer Church Road, near the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport.

According to Virginia State Police, a preliminary investigation shows that a single-engine plane was attempting to land when it collided with several trees, which caused it to crash into a field and catch fire.

The pilot, Simmie A. Adams, 62, of Bealeton, Va., was the only occupant. He died at the scene. Initially, police reported two victims in the crash.

No one on the ground was injured.

The NTSB tells us they’re on the scene today, investigating the crash. It doesn’t have information about where the plane took off.

NTSB’s comments to PLN: “NTSB investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment. As part of this process, investigators will gather the following information and records:

• Recordings of any air traffic control communications
• Radar data (Flight track data)
• Weather reports,
• 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safety operate the flight,
• Witness statements,
• Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation, and any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras.
• Aircraft maintenance records
• Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident
• Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience

Virginia State Police: “Virginia experienced a 53% decrease in the number of fatal traffic crashes over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday.? Preliminary data indicates nine people lost their lives over the five-day holiday statistical counting period, compared to 19 fatalities in 2022. In a majority of the crashes, those who died were not wearing a seat belt.”

“During the five-day counting period, which began at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 22, 2023, and concluded at midnight Nov. 26, 2023, nine people lost their lives to eight traffic crashes on Virginia roadways.? The crashes occurred in Amelia, Buchanan, Fairfax, Henrico, Henry, Madison, and Wythe counties, as well as the city of Chesapeake.”

“?To prevent traffic deaths and injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Virginia State Police participated in Operation C.A.R.E., the Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort The 2023 Thanksgiving Holiday CARE initiative led to state troopers citing 4,520 drivers for speeding and 1,840 for reckless driving.??State troopers also arrested 89 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and wrote 427 citations for not wearing a seat belt.”

“Overall, state troopers worked 1,359 crashes, a decrease of nearly a hundred traffic crashes compared to the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday.?Of the 2023 traffic crashes, 137 of them resulted in injuries.”