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Community rallies for fundraisers to help families of Oakton High students killed in crash

Published June 9, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated June 9, 2022 at 3:41PM

Community members have left flowers and a balloon along Blake Lane, where three Oakton High School students were struck by a car Tuesday (photo by Amy Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) The community is starting to rally to support the families of two Oakton High School students who died after a car struck them on a sidewalk Tuesday (June 7).

A GoFundMe was created for one of the students, identified as Ada Gabriela. As of this morning (Thursday), the fundraiser had raised over $60,000 to help the family cover funeral expenses and other costs, surpassing its goal in less than a day. Another GoFundMe that went live Thursday has collected more than $13,000 for the other student who died.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 9, 2022 at 7:30AM

Plants grow over Vienna Metro station sign and fence (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Police Arrest Suspect in Car Part Thefts — “A 33-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts in residential parking garages in Fairfax County and Fairfax City…The first theft was reported on April 19 in the 5800 block of Trinity Parkway in Centreville.” [ALXnow]

Fairfax Man Charged for Loudoun County Bomb Threat — “An 18-year-old man from Fairfax was arrested on Tuesday and charged in connection with a bomb threat that was emailed to Dominion High School on May 19.” [Patch]

Silver Line Phase 2 contractor eyes potential completion date

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 8, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated June 9, 2022 at 9:39AM

The extension could open in time for Thanksgiving travel.

Updated at 9:40 a.m. on 6/9/2022 — Metro could announce an operational readiness date for the Silver Line extension “within the next several weeks,” interim CEO and General Manager Andy Off told the Board of Directors’ safety and operations committee today (Thursday).

Earlier: Capital Rail Constructors — the builder of phase two of the Silver Line — estimated that the long-delayed project could be handed over to Metro by July 29.

VDOT tweaks 495 NEXT design as construction gets underway

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 8, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated June 8, 2022 at 3:15PM

The Virginia Department of Transportation has launched an interactive map showing the design and impacts of the 495 NEXT project (via VDOT)

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Construction to extend the I-495 Express Lanes from Tysons to the George Washington Memorial Parkway is moving full steam ahead, despite continued skepticism from many McLean residents.

The Virginia Department of Transportation shared revised designs for portions of the I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project at two public meetings earlier this week, one that convened in-person at Langley High School on Monday (June 6) and another held virtually yesterday (Tuesday).

County considers $2 fuel surcharge for cab rides, doubling gas pump help

By Matt Blitz

Published June 8, 2022 at 1:30PM

A taxicab in a parking lot (staff photo by David Taube)

As gas prices continue to rise, cab drivers in Fairfax County may be getting even more help at the pump.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is looking at implementing an emergency $2 fuel surcharge on every trip starting later this month. That would double the current surcharge, which was implemented in April, as gas prices have climbed even compared to two months ago.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 8, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:51PM

Sunrise Senior Living is under construction at 1515 Chain Bridge Road in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

County Officials React to Oakton Crash — Multiple Fairfax County elected officials expressed devastation at news that two Oakton High School students have died after a vehicle crash in Oakton yesterday (Tuesday). Crisis support services are available for students, according to school board members. [Twitter]

Fire Reported at Prosperity Flats Apartments — “Fire sprinklers extinguished a fire Tuesday night at a high-rise apartment building in Dunn Loring, according to a 6:58 p.m. post on the Fairfax Fire & Rescue Department’s official Twitter account. Fire units were called earlier to the apartment building in the 2700 block of Dorr Avenue after eighth floor residents reported seeing smoke.” [Patch]

UPDATED: Two women, man found dead barricaded inside apartment room in Fair Lakes, police say

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 7, 2022 at 2:00PM | Updated June 7, 2022 at 5:21PM

Fairfax County Police Department Executive Deputy Chief Brian Reilly talks at a press conference (via Fairfax County Police Department)

(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) A man and two women were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds barricaded inside a room of an apartment in Fair Lakes today (Tuesday), Fairfax County police said.

Police found the three people dead inside the apartment in the 4200 block of Mazarin Place after a family member of one of the deceased called 911 and requested a welfare check, Executive Deputy Chief Brian Reilly said at a press conference.

Pupatella’s Neapolitan pizza is landing in Springfield

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 7, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated August 17, 2022 at 10:41AM

Another Pupatella location is coming to Fairfax County (Photo via Pupatella).

(Updated on 8/17/2022) Pupatella Neopolitan Pizza is preparing to bring its signature Neopolitan pizza to Springfield.

The Arlington-based business plans to open up shop at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center, at 8434 Old Keene Mill Road, according to county permits.

Springfield man charged with hit and run after Lincolnia pedestrian dies

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 7, 2022 at 9:30AM

Little River Turnpike at Oasis Drive in Lincolnia (via Google Maps)

An 18-year-old Alexandria woman died over the weekend from injuries sustained in a fatal hit and run in Lincolnia last month, the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Monday).

The driver of a 2007 Honda CRV struck Daniela Bonilla Betancourt when she was crossing Little River Turnpike in a crosswalk near Oasis Drive on May 22, police said. Officers responded to the crash around 10:23 p.m. and she was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 7, 2022 at 7:30AM

The "Ascent" sculpture at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rabies Confirmed in Biting Coyote — The Fairfax County Health Department confirmed yesterday (Monday) that a coyote that bit four people and two dogs over the weekend in the Lake Accotink area was infected with rabies. Anyone who touched or was bitten or scratched by the animal should call the county health department’s rabies program at 703-246-2433, TTY 711. [FCHD]

Confederate Soldier’s Tombstone Defaced — The letters ‘CS,’ ‘NVA,’ and a Star of David were spraypainted on the tombstone of Armistead T. Thompson in the Thompson Family Cemetery by the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield. Fairfax County police received a report last Tuesday (May 31) and said the property management is working to remove it, though as of Sunday (June 5), the graffiti was still there. [Patch]