By Brian Trompeter
Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit are investigating a fatal three-car crash that occurred Aug. 11 at 11:44 a.m. on Arlington Boulevard at Stonehurst Drive in Merrifield.
Preliminary, detectives think the driver of a 2015 Toyota Camry attempted to turn left with a flashing yellow arrow from westbound Arlington Boulevard to Stonehurst Drive. A 2010 Toyota Prius being driven eastbound on Arlington Boulevard struck the Camry in the intersection.
After the initial collision, the Camry struck a third car, a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Eqs300, that was stopped at the intersection, police said. A passenger in the Camry, Paul Hession, 85, of the Churchill neighborhood near Falls Church, was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Rescue personnel transported the drivers of the three vehicles to a hospital for treatment of injuries not considered life-threatening. Preliminarily, speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, police said.
This is the ninth non-pedestrian-related fatal crash in Fairfax County to date in 2023. Year to date, in 2022 there also were nine non-pedestrian-related fatal crashes.
McLEAN WOMAN, 86, KILLED IN PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT IN McLEAN: A pedestrian-related crash on Aug. 11 in the 1700 block of Kirby Road in McLean killed an 86-year-old woman, Fairfax County police said.
According to detectives with the police department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit, the victim, identified as Brigitte Forster of McLean, was within the crosswalk and attempting to cross Kirby Road around 6 a.m. when she was struck by a 2009 Toyota Sienna that was turning left onto northbound Kirby Road from the parking lot of 1728 Kirby Road.
The driver cut the turn short and entered the southbound lanes, striking Forster in the crosswalk, police said. Rescue personnel took Forster to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The driver remained at the scene of the crash, police said.
Preliminarily, detectives do not believe speed or alcohol are factors in the crash. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, police said.
This is the seventh pedestrian-related fatal crash in Fairfax County to date in 2023. Year-to-date, in 2022, there were 12 pedestrian-related fatal crashes, police said.
2 DRIVERS HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING 4-VEHICLE CRASH IN FAIR OAKS: A four-vehicle crash in Fair Oaks on Aug. 11 injured three drivers, Fairfax County police said.
According to detectives with the police department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit, a motorist in a 2007 Jeep Laredo was traveling eastbound on Route 50 toward Fair Oaks Mall when the vehicle rear-ended a 2023 Lexus, then continued eastbound and struck a Land Rover.
The Jeep then struck the guardrail on the shoulder of the roadway and crossed all lanes of travel toward the median. The Jeep crossed the grass median, went airborne and struck a 2009 Ford U-Haul Truck that was traveling westbound Route 50, police said.
Rescue personnel transported the drivers of the Jeep and U-Haul to a hospital for treatment of injuries originally believed to be life-threatening, but later determined to be non-life-threatening.
‘WELLNESS FITNESS’ PROGRAM PROMOTES HEALTH OF FIRST RESPONDERS: Following the grand opening of the state-of-the-art Public Safety Wellness Center in July, officials with the Fairfax County Police Department and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department last week announced the opening of Wellness Fitness (WellFit), an industry-leading program designed to improve the physical health of all officers and civilian members of those departments.
WellFit is a holistic physical-health program intended to enhance and develop the overall health of both departments’ personnel. WellFit provides employees with a variety of fitness classes led by skilled instructors, medical staff with experience in athletic and physical training, and a dietitian who gives advice on healthy eating habits and optimizing performance.
From bench presses to high-intensity interval training and cardio, strength-and-conditioning professionals at WellFit coach the county’s first responders from signing day until they retire, officials said. The classes at WellFit and Public Safety Headquarters are designed to strengthen muscles, increase mobility, reduce injuries and optimize performance.
In addition to formal classes, strength-and-conditioning coaches also conduct one-on-one consultations and tailor appropriate exercise plans to help personnel achieve their fitness goals.
WellFit medical staff provide advanced assessments, treatments and rehabilitation to personnel who may be seeking physical-health guidance outside of workout classes. Athletic trainers and physical therapists are available to address the specific needs of members who require additional treatment or are interested in improving their health.
The WellFit Yoga Classes focus on a holistic approach to both physical and mental health for the county’s first responders. The yoga classes connect their minds, bodies and spirits to reduce stress levels, improve mental health and better their quality of life, officials said.
The police department’s Jiu-Jitsu Program not only focuses on physical health, but emphasizes mental resilience and total well-being. First responders can use this training to develop greater flexibility and mobility, which are key benefits to assist in building a stronger and healthier body.
The Public Safety Wellness Center gives police and fire department employees a holistic approach to mental health and a wide range of services that cater to their needs. The center houses a number of highly skilled, full-time clinicians with extensive experience in helping first responders and public-safety staff manage their mental and emotional well-being, cope with stress and trauma, and develop effective strategies for maintaining overall health in the demanding and challenging environments they face. These resources and services are available at no cost for members.
