Route 1 crashes in Huntington and Lorton add to county’s pedestrian death toll

(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) A pedestrian was killed in a crash on Route 1 in Lorton early this morning (Friday), just hours after Fairfax County police announced that a woman had died following a hit-and-run in the corridor.

With those two deaths, Fairfax County has now reported 12 pedestrian fatalities from vehicle crashes this year — nearly doubling the seven deaths recorded at this point in 2021.

The 2022 death toll doesn’t include a man killed on the Dulles Airport Access Highway in the Reston area on Tuesday (July 5), since that incident was handled by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police.

The Lorton crash occurred on Richmond Highway, also known as Route 1, over the northbound I-95 ramp at 1:28 a.m., the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release this afternoon.

The pedestrian — now identified as 24-year-old Keith Thomas — was walking in the highway’s southbound lanes when he was struck by a 2005 GMC Sierra headed in the same direction.

“While the driver of the GMC called for help, Thomas was subsequently struck by other vehicles,” the FCPD said.

Thomas died at the scene. Police say alcohol and speed don’t appear to have been factors in the crash.

Officers are on scene of a crash involving a pedestrian on Rt. 1 near I-95 in Lorton. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. Striking vehicle remained on scene. SB Rt. 1 at Hassett St is closed. Please avoid the area #FCPD pic.twitter.com/L12GjcKpnI

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 8, 2022

Charges possible in Huntington hit-and-run

Yesterday afternoon (Thursday), the FCPD announced that Doris Anita McPhail, 56, of Alexandria had succumbed to her injuries at a hospital that morning after being hit by a car while crossing Route 1 on Wednesday (July 6).

According to police, McPhail was near the Huntington Avenue intersection when a car traveling south on the highway hit her in the left lane.

Officers responded to the 5600 block of Richmond Highway around 10:20 p.m. The vehicle was originally described as a dark-colored, older SUV, but Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives later identified it as a 2007 dark-green Toyota Camry.

“The driver did not stop to assist or render aid,” the police department said.

According to police, while the crash investigation was underway, the driver of the car called 911 and told the dispatchers that they had been involved.

“Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction will present details of the investigation to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for possible charges,” the FCPD said. “Preliminarily, alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors in the crash.”

The police news release says McPhail was not in a crosswalk when she was hit, but the area was “dimly lit.” The area of Richmond Highway where the crash occurred is eight lanes across, not including left-only turn lanes on both sides of the intersection.

There have been 10 fatal crashes involving pedestrians on Richmond Highway since 2017, according to Virginia DMV crash data.

Richmond Highway has a speed limit of 45 mph and averages 55,000 vehicles per day, based on 2019 data, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

VDOT is currently conducting a speed study of the Fairfax County section of the corridor, from Belvoir Road to I-495, and is scheduled to present recommendations at a virtual public meeting on July 20.

Photo via Google Maps