Ashburn Man Charged After Fatal Centreville Crash: Police

CENTREVILLE, VA — An Ashburn man has been charged in connection with a Centreville crash that killed a motorcycle rider in November, Fairfax County police officials said.

Authorities identified the deceased motorcycle rider as 27-year-old Zafeer Piracha of Lorton.

On Friday, investigators charged 53-year-old Gael Cruchet of Ashburn with one count of reckless driving. He was released on a summons, authorities said.

According to his LinkedIn page, Cruchet has worked at the Ritz-Carlton Hotelin Washington, D.C. as an executive chef and director of operations.

If convicted, Cruchet could face up to 1 year in jail, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

The crash occurred around 9 p.m. on Nov. 16 on northbound Route 28 in Centreville. Investigators determined that Cruchet was driving a 2016 Acura TLX when his car collided with Piracha's 2022 Kawasaki motorcycle. The collision threw Piracha from his motorcycle, authorities said.

Piracha was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

On Friday, The Fairfax County Police Department said Cruchet was driving "well above the posted speed limit prior to the crash."

Piracha was the 14th person killed in a non-pedestrian crash in Fairfax County in 2023, according to the police department.