Police: Two Dead in Three-Car Crash Thursday Night on I-395

Virginia State Police are investigating a crash that killed two people Thursday night in the Alexandria area. The three-vehicle crash occurred at 9:59 p.m. in the southbound HOV lanes of I-395, just north of Route 236, according to police.

A Honda CRV was traveling north in the HOV lanes, which were southbound at the time, police said. The Honda struck almost head-on a southbound Toyota Avalon, according to police. An Infiniti G37 traveling behind the Avalon was unable to avoid the sudden crash and struck the Avalon and CRV, police said.

The driver of the CRV, Robert E. Trimpe, 55, of Springfield, Va., died at the scene, according to police.

The driver of the Avalon, William D. Bettenberg, 75, of Burke, Va., was transported to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, where he later died, police said.

The driver of the Infiniti, James H. Burnley of Alexandria, Va., suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, according to police.

The I-395 HOV lanes were re-opened by 3:10 a.m. Friday.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or saw the CRV prior to the crash is asked to call the Virginia State Police at 703-845-6300 or #77 on a cell phone.