Update on Fatal Pedestrian Crash Involving Police Cruiser

Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate the Oct. 20 fatal pedestrian crash in Annandale. The pedestrian’s autopsy has been completed and we are waiting for the report by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). The involved police cruiser was driven by Mason District Station Officer Reed Miller, a two year veteran of the department with four years of law enforcement experience. Per department policy, Officer Miller has been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of our investigations by the Crash Reconstruction Unit and the Internal Affairs Bureau. The results of the investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Unit will be presented to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County. Additional updates will be provided when available.

We are asking for anyone with information about this crash to contact our Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives at 703-280-0543.

(Original release date: October 20, 2019)

UPDATE: Fatal Pedestrian Crash Victim Identified

The victim of yesterday’s fatal pedestrian crash has been identified as Carlos Romeo Montoya, 40. We do not have a current address at this time. Next of kin have been notified.

(Original release date: October 20, 2019)

STATEMENT FROM CHIEF EDWIN C. ROESSLER JR. ON Fatal Pedestrian Crash Involving Police Cruiser

This is a tragic event for our community and my prayers continue for the deceased, their loved ones and for the officer involved.

Earlier this morning shortly after midnight, a patrol officer who has more than four years of law enforcement experience and who is assigned to the Mason District Station was driving in a marked police cruiser in the area of Arlington Boulevard and Graham Road. The officer was responding to a call for service for disorderly subjects.

The marked police cruiser was proceeding through a green light eastbound on Arlington Boulevard approaching the intersection of Graham Road.

This intersection has a pedestrian crosswalk with a pedestrian signal for the crosswalk. The posted speed limit for Arlington Boulevard in that area is 45 miles per hour.

As the police cruiser proceeded through the intersection, an adult male was struck in the left travel lane of Arlington Boulevard by the cruiser. The location of impact was within the crosswalk as determined by the police cruiser in-car video.

The officer immediately stopped to render first aid and called for the Fire and Rescue Department. The pedestrian was transported to the hospital by rescue personnel and was pronounced deceased.

At this time, we do not know the identity of the pedestrian who can best be described as an Hispanic male between the ages of 20-40 and was wearing dark clothing.

Our Crash Reconstruction Detectives are working to identify the pedestrian and notify his next of kin.

The crash investigation will determine all the factors of this unfortunate event to include:

• Speed of the cruiser
• Lighting conditions at the intersection
• Condition of the pedestrian walk/don’t walk sign
• Forensic medical examination to understand if there were any contributing factors for the pedestrian.

The involved officer was reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of our investigations by the Crash Reconstruction Unit and the Internal Affairs Bureau.  The results of the investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Unit will be presented to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County.

We are asking for anyone with information about this crash to contact our Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives at 703-280-0543.

This is the 14^th pedestrian fatality in the county to date in 2019.  We have had approximately 112 pedestrian involved crashes with 126 injuries.

Watch Facebook Live on Today’s Media Briefing

Information on VDOT’s Route 50 STARS Safety and Operational Improvements Study in Falls Church Area

(Original release date: October 20, 2019)

Join Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Police Chief, who will update the community on the investigation regarding a fatal pedestrian crash involving a police cruiser.

WHERE:

Public Safety Headquarters

12099 Government Center Parkway

Press Room: 2nd Floor

Fairfax, Virginia 22035

WHEN:

Sunday, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m.

PARKING:

Please DO NOT park in the fire lanes. Parking is available in two garages. Please take note of the vehicle height clearances so you don’t damage your vehicles. Satellite trucks may park on the shoulders as you approach the round-a-bout. When you enter the round-about in front of our building, veer right and you will see a garage on your left and a garage on your right.

There are a few first-come-first-serve spots as soon as you enter the garage on the right. There are additional visitor spots in the garage on the left. There will be officers outside to help guide you.