2 areas in Richmond Highway corridor rank among most dangerous for pedestrians

October 28, 2016 Police and Fire, Transportation

Two stretches of road in the Richmond Highway corridor rank among the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in the county, according to a report released by the Fairfax County Police Department today.

The 11 locations listed by the county had high incidences of fatal or “serious injury” collisions involving pedestrians.

Lockheed Boulevard between Richmond Highway and Fordson Drive in the Hybla Valley was one of the roadways named by the county. Also on the list were five separate blocks of Richmond Highway — 7900, 8100, 8300, 8600, 8700 — which were grouped together as one trouble spot by the county.

Map of accidents

Click to enlarge

That part of Route 1, which stretches more than 2.5 miles from Hybla Valley to Woodlawn, is a two-lane section of the highway already tapped for a major transportation project that includes improved pedestrian access. It is also a spot just months removed from a fatal collision.

Aaron Nelson McCullough, 56, was struck and killed by an SUV on August 30 in the 8300 block of Richmond Highway. The accident happened around 6:15 a.m., and a Washington Post article on pedestrian fatalities said that McCullough was likely walking to the bus stop to head to his job in Alexandria.

The driver in the incident was not charged, and police said that McCullough was not in a crosswalk when he was struck.

The other nine locations on the list:

  • Centrewood Drive and Saint Germain Road, Centreville
  • Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50) and Metrotech Drive, Chantilly
  • Gallows Road from Arlington Boulevard (Route 50) to I-66, Fairfax
  • Leesburg Pike (Route 7) from Patrick Henry Drive to Rio Drive, Falls Church
  • Little River Turnpike (Route 236) from Hummer Road to Woodland Road, Annandale
  • 7900 block of Heritage Drive, Annandale
  • 7500 block of McWhorter Place, Annandale
  • Backlick Road and Hechinger Drive, Springfield

Police said that most of the trouble spots had certain characteristics in common, such happening in October and November when it begins getting darker during both morning and evening rush hour. Many of the high-incident areas were also near bus stops or along bus routes, police said.