Monday, August 30, 2010
Nine year old bicyclist killed on Franconia Road
A 9-year-old Fairfax County girl was struck by a car and fatally injured Monday afternoon while crossing a road on her bicycle, county police said.
The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. south of Alexandria on Franconia Road in the Rose Hill section of the county.
The 9-year-old and two teenage girls had been been riding east on a bicycle path adjacent to Franconia Road, said Officer Don Gotthard, a police spokesman. As they approached Cannon Lane, the teenagers crossed Franconia on their bicycles from north to south, he said.
The 9-year-old tried to cross as well, but was struck by a car in the westbound lanes of the road, Gotthardt said. She was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she died, he said.
The Fairfax County girl who died after being struck by a car has been identified as Rebecca Johns, of Clermont Drive.
The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. south of Alexandria on Franconia Road in the Rose Hill section of the county.
The 9-year-old and two teenage girls had been been riding east on a bicycle path adjacent to Franconia Road, said Officer Don Gotthard, a police spokesman. As they approached Cannon Lane, the teenagers crossed Franconia on their bicycles from north to south, he said.
The 9-year-old tried to cross as well, but was struck by a car in the westbound lanes of the road, Gotthardt said. She was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she died, he said.
The Fairfax County girl who died after being struck by a car has been identified as Rebecca Johns, of Clermont Drive.
We will try to find out more about the circumstances of the crash. In the photo above from Google Street View you can see the trail on which the girls were riding on the left side of Franconia Rd. The photo is looking east. It seems odd that the motorist would not see the girl. According to the article, two other girls had crossed just before her. As kids return to school it's even more important that motorists be on the watch for them.
Our condolences to the family.
Update: Another article about the crash at WUSA9.com, 80-Year-old Man Crashed into her Bike with his Car
Police say a 2004 Mercury sedan struck Rebecca Johns, of Alexandria, who was riding with two of her friends, while driving along Franconia road near Cannon Lane.
The girl was rushed to the hospital where she later died from her injuries.
The driver of the car, an 80-year-old man, is not suspected of speeding or being under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs.
The girl was rushed to the hospital where she later died from her injuries.
The driver of the car, an 80-year-old man, is not suspected of speeding or being under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs.
Update: According to NBC4 and ABC-7 newscasts, no charges were filed against the 80 year old motorist.
Labels: bike crash, franconia road
Comments:
As a person who lives in this neighborhood on Norton Road and uses their bike to run errands in this area I am very familiar with this road and it's traffic patterns. It should be noted that Franconia Road has a very large volume of traffic traveling west in the afternoon rush and east in the morning rush. The only places where this traffic is interrupted is at the intersections of Rose Hill Drive / Franconia Road and Telegraph Road / Franconia Road. This 2 mile section of road has many residential neighborhoods on both sides and several schools along it's length. This girl was struck in between these points in an area where a person attempting to cross the road has no way to effect the traffic flow to allow for them to safely cross. I think that one could ask why their is no accommodation to allow for pedestrian / cyclist to cross the road safely in this area. I often have taken my daughter by bike from my home on Norton Road to her preschool on Telegraph Road. I find at these times of day that it is almost impossible to cross both Franconia & Telegraph Road and thus usually do not travel this route during the rush hours or elect to take the car at these times. It should also be asked how the side path that travels along Franconia road could be improved to accommodate pedestrian traffic both along and across the road.
As a person who lives in this neighborhood on Norton Road and uses their bike to run errands in this area I am very familiar with this road and it's traffic patterns. It should be noted that Franconia Road has a very large volume of traffic traveling west in the afternoon rush and east in the morning rush. The only places where this traffic is interrupted is at the intersections of Rose Hill Drive / Franconia Road and Telegraph Road / Franconia Road. This 2 mile section of road has many residential neighborhoods on both sides and several schools along it's length. This girl was struck in between these points in an area where a person attempting to cross the road has no way to effect the traffic flow to allow for them to safely cross. I think that one could ask why their is no accommodation to allow for pedestrian / cyclist to cross the road safely in this area. I often have taken my daughter by bike from my home on Norton Road to her preschool on Telegraph Road. I find at these times of day that it is almost impossible to cross both Franconia & Telegraph Road and thus usually do not travel this route during the rush hours or elect to take the car at these times. It should also be asked how the side path that travels along Franconia road could be improved to accommodate pedestrian traffic both along and across the road.
this is truly sad. Franconia road is a very bicycle unfriendly road but it is a key artery for the area. In addition to infrastructure changes and driver awareness training, Fairfax county needs to invest more heavily in safe routes to school programs similar to the investments alexandria and arlington have made.
# posted by 
: September 1, 2010 at 11:51 AM
: September 1, 2010 at 11:51 AM
One problem is the comment from the police that they were on a "bike path". That is not a bike path, it is a sidewalk. It doesn't come close to meeting the guidelines and standards for a bike path, but our society expects people to marginalize themselves by riding on such ribbons of asphalt and then having to interact with vehicular traffic to continue or get to their destination.
With that kind of dense residential development and public space land uses it is embarrassing that Franconia is configured like that.
With that kind of dense residential development and public space land uses it is embarrassing that Franconia is configured like that.
# posted by : February 2, 2011 at 5:39 PM
: February 2, 2011 at 5:39 PM
We love you Becky <3 R.I.P. Your sweet smile is always in my heart.
# posted by : April 11, 2011 at 6:40 PM
: April 11, 2011 at 6:40 PM
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