Driver charged with DWI for Friday night crash that closed highway

A 24-year-old Alexandria man faces DWI charges after a crash in the Groveton area late Friday night knocked down utility wires, causing Richmond Highway to be closed well into the next day.

Police say that the suspect drove off the road near Collard Street (see map) around 10:45 p.m., hitting a pole and flipping the car over. It’s unclear if the driver or anyone else was injured in the crash.

The suspect was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving on a suspended license. Court documents say it’s the second DWI charge for the suspect in the past five years.

The crash knocked out power for some in the surrounding neighborhoods, and crews were called in to replace the pole and re-hang the wires. Work was not complete for close to 12 hours, causing the entire road to be shut down in both directions. According to police, both sides of the highway weren’t completely reopened until 11:19 p.m. Saturday.

Other incidents reported in the Mount Vernon police district from over the weekend:

Larceny: 4300 block of Amblewood Road, wallet from vehicle
Larceny: 8100 block of Bianca Place, wallet from location
Larceny: 8300 block of Brockham Drive, property from residence
Larceny: 6000 block of Fort Hunt Road, debit card from vehicle
Larceny: 3100 block of Lockheed Boulevard, beer from business
Larceny: 5700 block of Metroview Parkway, headphones and sunglasses from vehicle
Larceny: 2500 block of Parkers Lane, cell phone and cash from location
Larceny: 7800 block of Richmond Highway, briefcase from location
Larceny: 7900 block of Richmond Highway, cash from business
Larceny: 7900 block of Richmond Highway, vacuum from business
Larceny: 8100 block of Richmond Highway, merchandise from business
Larceny: 8500 block of Richmond Highway, headphones from location