Fairfax County Led VA With Most Senior Pedestrian Deaths In 2019

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Virginia is seeing senior pedestrian deaths rise, and Fairfax County is leading the way, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. Fairfax County's the state's most populous jurisdiction, saw six senior pedestrian deaths in 2019, followed by four in Henrico County and three in Arlington County.

AAA says there's been a significant rise in senior pedestrian deaths from 2018 to 2019, citing preliminary data from the Virginia DMV. Among seniors 65 or older, there were 37 pedestrian deaths in 2019, compared to 19 in 2018. The age group over 70 had 24 pedestrian fatalities statewide in 2019, the most of any age group.

Seniors were most commonly struck from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., when visibility affects drivers and senior pedestrians, AAA Mid-Atlantic says. The data showed a majority of victims were within five miles of their homes when they were killed.

Fairfax County previously reported most pedestrian fatalities happen on streets with 40 to 45 mph speed limits, such as Route 1, Route 7, Route 326 and Route 29.

"The huge increase in senior pedestrian fatalities in Virginia is alarming. AAA reminds all seniors to cross either at intersections or clearly marked cross walks, attempt to signal drivers or make eye contact with them before stepping onto the roadway, and to wear visible clothing when walking," said Morgan Dean, senior specialist for AAA Mid-Atlantic Public and Government Affairs.

Drivers are advised to obey speed limits, always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, to not pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks and be aware of pedestrians when entering and leaving driveways.

Fairfax County saw 16 pedestrian deaths in 2019, second in the DC region only to Prince George's County, Maryland's 23 fatalities. Washington, DC and Montgomery County, Maryland followed, each with 14 pedestrian deaths in 2019.

So far in 2020, there have been five fatal pedestrian crashes in Fairfax County. The fatality happened on Richmond Highway in Lorton on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Detectives believe the pedestrian was crossing Richmond Highway near the intersection of Giles Run Road when a northbound driver struck him. Police noted rainy conditions and that the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk.

Fairfax County Police also announced an arrest in a January 2019 hit-and-run crash that killed a 93-year-old man on Arlington Boulevard in West Falls Church.