The scene at Interstate 95 in Dale City, Virginia, where a four-car crash killed three people Thursday afternoon. (Courtesy Virginia State Police) Three people are dead after a crash Thursday on Interstate 95 in Dale City, Virginia, that involved four cars and blocked the roadway for nearly seven hours. Virginia State Police said a 2008 Dodge Avenger sedan, traveling north on I-95, reached speeds as high as 80 miles per hour when state troopers tried to pull the vehicle over just after 4:30 p.m. However, the Dodge sped away as police ended their pursuit due to traffic. Police said the Dodge continued north on I-95, entering the Express Lanes, which were only open to southbound traffic, when it broke three lighted Express Lanes gates at the entry. As the Dodge drove onto the Express Lanes, it struck a Ford Ranger pickup truck that was heading southbound “head-on,” causing it to go over the guardrail. Two other cars crashed into the Dodge, causing it to catch fire. Virginia State Police identified the people who died Friday morning. Stephanie T. Morton, 46, of Richmond, who was driving the Dodge Avenger, died at the scene. Police said it was unknown if Morton was wearing a seatbelt. The Dodge’s passenger, Tia O. Porter, 26, also of Richmond, was not wearing a seatbelt and died after being ejected from the car. Kenneth E. Crosby Jr., 61, of Dumfries, the driver of a second car, died at the scene. The driver of the third car was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and passengers in the fourth car were treated for minor injuries at the crash scene, police said. All lanes on I-95 reopened around 11:30 p.m. after portions were shut down for following the crash. WTOP’s Dave Dildine said northbound and southbound traffic was backed up for more than seven miles on the mainline throughout the evening.
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Bailout traffic overwhelmed many other roads in Prince William County, including Prince William Parkway, Dale Boulevard, Minnieville Road, Smoketown Road and Route 1. WTOP’s Dave Dildine contributed to this report.
A golf course for ‘the people’ faces a presidential makeover
WASHINGTON (AP) — A pack of cyclists whisked by along the circuit at East Potomac Park while the golf course parking lot filled with luxury SUVs parked next to older, inexpensive economy cars, all with the Washington Monument in the background.
The scene highlighted what residents say are the park's best features: its accessibility and affordability right in the nation's capital.
The historic park, especially the golf course, has caught the eye of President Donald Trump, who wants to turn it into a world-class golf venue. It's part of his grand vision for Washington, D.C., where he has torn down storied structures, remade or renamed others and deployed the National Guard for more than a year.
But some residents fear the planned changes to the golf course — where Trump has visited with a cabinet member, a well-known golf course architect and blueprints — risk altering the character of a place that has served Washingtonians of many stripes for more than a century. Turning the park into an upscale golf course will mean costlier fees and a loss of public space, residents worry.
