A driver who managed to crash onto the Metro tracks from I-66 in Dunn Loring has been taken to a hospital.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched around 11:24 a.m. today (Wednesday) for a crash off I-66 prior to the Cedar Lane bridge.
“Caller said they were in the HOV lanes, crashed the vehicle and landed on the Metro tracks,” the dispatcher said on the emergency scanner.
According to the scanner, the driver exited the sedan, and firefighters later helped them get away from the tracks, where the vehicle remained. The car came into contact with the electrified third rail, igniting “a small fire” to the rear that had to be extinguished.
“1 civilian transported with non-life-threatening injuries,” the fire department said on social media.
#FCFRD is on scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-66 WB prior to Cedar Ln Overpass. At 11:24am units responded for a car on the neighboring Metro tracks. 1 civilian transported with non-life-threatening injuries. I-66 WB HOV Lanes & Metro tracks shut down. https://t.co/QqC98P7W1m
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 11, 2026
A preliminary investigation by the Virginia State Police found that the sedan driver veered off the left side of westbound I-66 when reaching “down to grab his EZ Pass device.”
“The vehicle then struck snow and ice on the left shoulder, which acted as a ramp,” the VSP said. “The vehicle went airborne, went through fencing, and landed on the Metro Rail.”
EZ Pass transponders are used by drivers to pay tolls without stopping, though there’s also a Flex option that can be switched on when the vehicle meets high-occupancy limits so they can use express lanes toll-free.
An investigation into the crash remains underway, but state police announced this afternoon that the driver has been charged with reckless driving.
The westbound I-66 Express Lanes were closed to traffic near the crash, and train service on the Orange Line between the West Falls Church and Vienna Metro stations was suspended due to the obstruction.
Metro warned customers to expect delays, initially recommending bus route F50 as an alternative before establishing shuttle bus service at the Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations.
Shuttle bus service has been established at the following locations:
Dunn Loring
Bus Bay E – stop ID #5004799Vienna
Bus Bay M -stop ID #5004711West Falls Church
Bus Bay G – stop ID #5001955— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) February 11, 2026
Crews began lifting the sedan off the tracks with a crane shortly after 1 p.m., WJLA reported.
As of 2 p.m., one westbound toll lane on I-66 remained blocked, but Metro has restarted service on the Orange Line between West Falls Church and Vienna. After some initial single-tracking, regular service resumed around 2:30 p.m.
Noting that the sedan was fully removed around 1:30 p.m., the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority thanked Fairfax County firefighters for their assistance.
“Our Intrusion Detection Warning system did its job by alerting our command center of a fence breach & obstruction,” WMATA said in social media posts. “Thank you to @ffxfirerescue for their assistance!”
BREAKING: Crews have lifted the car off the tracks. I'm awaiting word on how long it will take before train service can start in this area of the Orange Line again. Fairfax Co. Fire/Rescue says the driver crashed & was taken to the hospital, injuries not life-threatening. #wmata pic.twitter.com/vkZ6pvR74v
— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) February 11, 2026
UPDATE: Crash. I-66 Express Lanes WB past I-495 (Exit 64). Fairfax County, VA. 1 left lane of the Express Lanes remains blocked, 1 right lane is open. Orange Line service has resumed between Vienna and West Falls Church with single tracking.
— MATOC Alerts (@MATOC) February 11, 2026
The car was removed from the tracks around 1:30 p.m. & normal service has resumed! Our Intrusion Detection Warning system did its job by alerting our command center of a fence breach & obstruction. Thank you to Fairfax County Fire/Rescue for their assistance!
— Metro (@wmata.com) February 11, 2026 at 2:48 PM
