State Trooper Vehicle Hit In I-66 Crash Near Sycamore Street Exit

ARLINGTON, VA — A driver is sought by Virginia State Police for hitting a state trooper's vehicle in a work zone on Interstate 66 late Friday.

The crash happened near exit 69 (Sycamore Street) in the East Falls Church area. Police say a 2014 Volkswagen was heading east on I-66 in a work zone around 11:27 p.m. when the vehicle changed lanes and struck the trooper's vehicle.

State trooper M. Hart was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and has non-life-threatening injuries. She is recovering at home after being released from the hospital.

The Volkswagen driver, a woman, and the passenger, a man, fled on foot. Police arrested the passenger, Christopher G. Rush, 37, of Woodbridge, but he would not identify the driver. He was charged with being drunk in public and obstruction of justice. He was taken to the Arlington County Detention Center.

The investigation of the crash continues. Tips may be provided by calling 703-803-0026 or by emailing questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

State police urged drivers to use caution in work zones. In December 2019, a crew of construction workers were struck by an SUV in a work zone on I-66. The driver was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to stop at the scene of a crash involving an injury (felony count), and driving on a suspended/revoked license.

There have been work zones in this portion of I-66 inside the Beltway as part of a widening project adding another eastbound travel lane from the Dulles Connector Road to Fairfax Drive (Exit 71). The Virginia Department of Transportation's project website identifies the opening date for the new lane as fall 2020.