WASHINGTON – A person was murdered on the George Washington Memorial Parkway just south of Alexandria, Virginia, when a tree fell on their car during a fast-moving storm.
According to US Park Police, the tree fell upon a vehicle along Morningside Lane shortly before 6 p.m. Police confirm that the individual died.
GW Parkway is now closed, with no indication when it may reopen. A woman was also killed when a tree fell on her car Friday evening, according to Fairfax County Police.
Police said they were summoned to the intersection of Pole and Frye roads at 5:42 p.m., where they discovered the tree on top of the car with the woman inside. She was declared dead.
Katy Hernandez, who lives in the neighbourhood, told 7News that the unexpected shift in weather prompted her to start shooting video.
“I saw everything get dark fast, and then it started raining,” she told me. “The light poles appeared to be about to fall by me, and then I noticed the cables moving rapidly. When I noticed the cable moving, I heard a tremendous bomb.”
That was the sound of a tree falling roughly 500 feet distant from her, killing the victim and bringing down power lines.
According to Hernandez, a man tried to help the victim but was unable to do so.
“It’s very depressing to see someone injured like that by a tree and power lines,” said neighbour Lisa Jordan. “I’m just worried for the family.”
Frye Road between Manor Drive and Pole Road has been closed as police investigate.
The fatal accident occurred when a fast-moving storm swept through the region, forcing some trees to fall across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia.
