Va. Thanksgiving traffic death total lowest since ‘03

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: December 2, 2008

Despite the death of a man struck by a car in Woodbridge this weekend, traffic deaths across the commonwealth during the Thanksgiving holiday were the lowest in five years.

Nine people died on Virginia highways during the state's statistical Thanksgiving travel period, from Nov. 26 through Nov. 30. This marks the lowest fatality rate since 2002.

Among those killed over the extended holiday weekend were two teenagers, two bicyclists and a 44-year-old man who was walking on Caton Hill Road in Woodbridge on Saturday night. Police charged Tamarr Deshawn Williams, 24, of 3605 Eagle Rock Court in Woodbridge, with involuntary manslaughter in the man's death.

"Overall the recent decline in fatal traffic crashes is encouraging. However, it should be no reason to become complacent for drivers and passengers," Virginia State Police Col. Steven Flaherty said.

Flaherty said his agency investigated more than 1,000 traffic incidents over the holiday weekend.

On Sunday, a trooper investigating a crash in Carroll County near the North Carolina border discovered that one of the men involved was wanted on a first-degree murder charge in Staunton. In addition to that charge, the man also faces a DUI charge, resisting arrest and possession of a firearm of a convicted felon.

State police are also attributing the reduction in highway deaths to their Combined Accident Reduction Effort, or CARE program. The plan was designed to crack down on speed-related crashes and deaths.

Over the holiday troopers issued nearly 10,000 speeding tickets, nearly 3,000 for reckless driving, 188 for DUI, 220 seatbelt violations and just over 6,000 other violations.

Traffic on Northern Virginia roads underwent changes earlier in the week, on Monday and Tuesday, prior to the traditional holiday rush.

Officials with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project began using electronic speed limit signs to regulate the flow of traffic to the bridge. The goal is to reduce rear end collisions near work zones caused by abrupt stopping, Wilson Bridge project spokesman John Undeland said.

The idea of a variable speed limit system was first implemented in August, but Undeland said there was not enough construction happening near the bridge to properly gauge if the system would work. Since then, a two-mile stretch of the Beltway has been reduced from eight lanes to six near Telegraph Road in Alexandria, and two new travel lanes in the center of the bridge are getting ready to open.

The two-day project was hailed as a success and will be used more next year.

Fatal collisions took place in at least seven Virginia counties over the holiday, including Prince William and Fairfax.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.