State Police: More than 3,300 Snowstorm Incidents, Two Fatalities

The snowstorm that swept across Virginia from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning kept the State Police busy, as troopers responded to 1,035 traffic crashes and 1,023 disabled vehicles, according to agency figures.

Two of those crashes led to fatalities, the State Police said - one in Northern Virginia, the other in the southwestern part of the state. Overall, from 4 p.m. Monday to noon Tuesday, troopers and dispatchers statewide fielded 3,363 calls for service.

The majority of crashes involved damaged vehicles only. Due to vehicles losing control on slick roadways, two troopers were struck and injured. Both wefre treated at hospitals and released.

In Northern Virginia, a Loudoun County man died after a two-car collision Monday night on Route 15 near Route 50, west of Dulles Airport.

The State Police responded at 10:05 p.m. to the crash, which occurred when a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder was traveling south on Route 15 and lost control. The Nissan slid into the northbound lanes and collided with a 2005 Kia Sedona, the police said.

A backseat passenger in the Pathfinder, Javier Alexander Anzora, 40, of Purcellville, was transported to Inova Loudoun Hospital Cornwall Campus in Leesburg, where he later died. Anzora was not wearing a seat belt, the police said.

No additional details were available on the drivers or any other injuries, according to Corinne Geller, a State Police spokeswoman.

In southwestern Virginia, a fatal single-vehicle crash occurred Monday in Wythe County.

At 12:50 p.m., a 2006 Ford F-250 pickup truck was southbound on Interstate 81 when it ran off the right side of the road and into the median, where it overturned. The driver, Donald R. Taylor, 63, of Chilhowie, died at the scene, the State Police said. He was not wearing a seat belt.

A 16-year-old female passenger was wearing a seat belt. She was not injured in the crash. It was snowing at the time and the interstate was snow-covered, police said.

The State Police reported responses to dozens of calls in Virginia’s major metropolitan regions:

• In the Richmond region (Metro Richmond/Northern Neck/Tri-Cities), the State Police reported that dispatchers and troopers responded to 631 calls for service from 4 p.m. Monday to noon Tuesday, with 252 traffic crashes and 199 disabled vehicles.
• In Northern Virginia (Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and the city of Alexandria), the State Police responded to 685 calls for service, including 165 traffic crashes and 218 disabled vehicles.
• In the Chesapeake region (Hampton Roads/Tidewater/Eastern Shore/Williamsburg/Franklin/Emporia) the State Police responded to 747 calls for service, including 283 traffic crashes and 231 disabled vehicles.
  

Motorists are still being advised to stay off the highways as secondary roads are slick and hazardous. For their safety, drivers are advised to delay travel until later today so VDOT crews can continue to treat and clear the highways.

Drivers are also advised NOT to call 911 or #77 to find out about road conditions. These phone lines must remain clear for real emergencies. Call 511 for road conditions or click on www.511virginia.org.

If having to travel, drivers are reminded to drive to save lives (#drivetosavelives):

• Clear off all snow from your vehicle – windows, roof, trunk and lights
• Add extra time to reach travel destination
• Slow speed for road conditions
• Increase driving distances between vehicles for increased stopping distance
• Buckle up and don’t drive distracted
• MOVE OVER for all stopped emergency vehicles, highway vehicles and tow trucks.