2nd Victim Identified In Fatal Crash On I-495 Inner Loop In Fairfax

FAIRFAX, VA — Virginia State Police identified the second person killed as the result of last Wednesday's multi-vehicle crash on the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway/I-495, according to a release.

VSP troopers responded around 7:53 p.m., for the report of a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a sedan on the northbound main lanes of I-495 near Braddock Road.

An investigation revealed that the a 2019 Freightliner tractor-trailer heading north on I-495 tried to change lanes and struck a 1985 Buick Century. The Buick spun around and struck the bollards and jersey wall on the left side of the roadway, according to police.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, 41-year-old Richard F. Alburger Jr. of Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, exited his vehicle and was struck by a 2017 Ford Escape as he was trying to cross the travel lane.

Alburger was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital to be treated for his injuries, but he later died.

Police identified 58-year-old James G. Essex of Falls Church and 68-year-old David W. Ford of Warrenton as the drivers of the Buick and Ford, respectively. When the crash occurred, both were wearing their seatbelts and both were uninjured.

Robert A. Blakely, 71, of Washington, D.C. was the first fatality identified in connection with the crash. Police reported last Thursday that he was ejected from the 2019 Ford F-150 pickup truck he was driving and died at the scene.