Monday, July 27WATCHFUL EYE

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VA Beach man in fatal Norfolk crash, but VSP doesn’t know when it happened
News, Traffic

VA Beach man in fatal Norfolk crash, but VSP doesn’t know when it happened

A concerned friend discovered that 30-year-old Austin Trevor Hale of Virginia Beach had been in a fatal accident in Norfolk on July 31, but according to Virginia State Police, it’s unknown when that crash occurred. According to VSP, on Wednesday, the unnamed friend called the Emergency Communications Center and explained that he had not heard from Hale all day. The man got concerned, obtained Hale’s last known location, and routed the location back to Hale’s home. Double-sided car mount phone holder: $12.58 While the friend was out searching for Hale along the route, he saw skid marks on the left shoulder of the I-64 East exit ramp to I-264 West, VSP stated. The friend stopped to investigate and saw a vehicle in the woods laying on its side against a tree. Norfolk Fire and ...
Another crash on Rt. 17 bridge in Middlesex, VDOT confirms bridge replacement
News, Traffic

Another crash on Rt. 17 bridge in Middlesex, VDOT confirms bridge replacement

The northbound bridge over Dragon Run on Rt. 17 at the Middlesex-Gloucester line requires repair once again after another crash, this time on July 26. According to VSP Sergeant Michelle Anaya, around 2 a.m., John Fletcher of Shacklefords was driving a 2022 Ford F450 when he attempted to avoid a deer causing him to run off the road and hit the bridge and a guardrail. Fletcher was charged with failure to maintain the lane, Anaya said. Around 20 feet of bridge rail was damaged in the crash along with about 208 feet of guardrail north and south of the bridge, VDOT reported. Due to that damage, traffic has reduced to a single lane at the bridge since the incident. Double-sided car mount phone holder: $12.58 This latest crash reignited comments from some critics who believe the...
Delays, lane closure on Downing Bridge Sunday night
News, Traffic

Delays, lane closure on Downing Bridge Sunday night

Drivers crossing between Tappahannock and Richmond County should expect delays from Sunday evening into early Monday morning due to the Downing Bridge being reduced to one lane, VDOT announced. Crews will be paving Rt. 360 north of the bridge on the Richmond County side. Traffic on the Downing Bridge will be reduced to a single from 8 p.m. on the July 7 until 5 a.m. on July 8. There will be a flagging crew and a pilot car to lead the alternating lanes of traffic across the bridge and through the work zone, said VDOT. If the work is canceled due to weather, it will be rescheduled to start at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 8, and run through 5 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. FOLLOW the Watchful Eye on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with what's happening in Virginia!
VDOT backtracks on decision to cut Jamestown-Scotland ferry service
News, Traffic

VDOT backtracks on decision to cut Jamestown-Scotland ferry service

VDOT backtracked on its plan to cut service for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry starting July 8. As previously reported, VDOT planned to reduce service for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, which runs 24/7 every day of the year, citing staffing problems. Today, VDOT said the reduced schedule would no longer be implemented. “As staffing and vessel resources allow, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will remain operating under the summer schedule that went into effect May 27 to accommodate the increase in ferry passengers during the summer travel season,” the department stated. With the summer schedule, a boat crosses the James River about every 20 – 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. Meanwhile, VDOT said it’s actively recruiting to fill vacancies on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry tea...
Year of lane closures, detours in Mathews near Fort Nonsense
News, Traffic

Year of lane closures, detours in Mathews near Fort Nonsense

Those who use Rt. 3 / Rt. 14 to travel between Mathews and Gloucester be advised. On Monday, VDOT will begin a major bridge rahab project that will change the traffic pattern in the Fort Nonsense area for over a year. On July 8, VDOT is slated to start its $5.5 million project improving the westbound bridge over Burke Mill Stream in Mathews. By late August, the westbound lanes of Rt. 3 / Rt. 14 will be closed at Windsor Road. When the westbound lanes close, westbound traffic will be shifted to an eastbound lane on Rt. 3 / Rt. 14, which means eastbound traffic will also be reduced to a single lane. This work zone traffic pattern is expected to be in place from the August 2024 to fall 2025 “to accelerate work,” said VDOT. Westbound view at the intersection of Rt. 3/ Rt. 14 and Wi...
Crash damages bridge at Middlesex-Gloucester line, VSP investigating
News, Traffic

Crash damages bridge at Middlesex-Gloucester line, VSP investigating

Virginia State Police launched an investigation into the truck crash that damaged the bridge over Dragon Run and closed one northbound lane of Rt. 17 at the Gloucester-Middlesex line. The crash occurred Monday around noon. According to VSP, Alvin T. McGowan, a 48-year-old of North Chesterfield, was heading northbound in a 2016 Volvo VHD64T. The truck ran off the road on the right side, hit a guardrail, hit the bridge, and then struck the guardrail a second time. McGowan was not injured, VSP confirmed. VDOT announced a single-lane closure on the northbound side within the noon hour, and it remains underway. The department says the closure is necessary to allow space for crews to make repairs as 60 feet of the bridge rail was damaged by the crash along with about a total of 27...
2 Winchester men killed in Essex crash, driver charged
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2 Winchester men killed in Essex crash, driver charged

A Winchester man has been charged for an Essex County crash that led to the death of two men. The single-vehicle crash occurred last Wednesday on Route 17. Martimiano Perez Linares, age 42, was heading northbound in a 2003 Dodge pickup that was pulling a small trailer, Virginia State Police stated. In the 5300 block of Tidewater Trail (Rt. 17) Linares ran off the road to the left, overturned, and his three passengers were thrown from the truck. Jose Euglogio Cruz Gomez, 61, and Wulfrano Cruz Gomez, 41, who were both also Winchester residents, died at the scene. Linares was entrapped. After his rescue, him and Jose Angel Romero Hernandez, the 36-year-old third passenger, were flown to the hospital in Richmond, VSP stated. Hernandez was seriously injured but his injuries were not...
VSP launches investigation into Fauquier tractor-trailer crash that shut down I-66 West
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VSP launches investigation into Fauquier tractor-trailer crash that shut down I-66 West

The hours-long road closure on Interstate 66 West in Fauquier on Friday was caused by an overturned tractor-trailer that resulted in the westbound lanes being closed at the 24.8 mile marker. Virginia State Police said a 2010 International crashed at 8:10 a.m. The truck was headed westbound and a vehicle, that’s currently unidentified, made an unsafe lane change, VSP said. The vehicle’s maneuver caused the tractor-trailer, which was hauling 50,000 pounds of peas, to run off the left side of the highway, hit a guardrail, and turn over in the median, VSP reported. The truck driver, a 54-year-old Suffolk man who wasn’t named, was wearing a seatbelt and didn’t suffer any injuries. (Photo: VSP) But traffic was detoured off I-66 at Exit 27, and the cleanup effort took hours. VSP...
+Year-long lane closures on Eltham Bridge in West Point starting next week
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+Year-long lane closures on Eltham Bridge in West Point starting next week

If you travel between West Point and New Kent, be advised that work will begin on Eltham Bridge next week and is expected to continue through August 2025. VDOT said there will a $5.6 million effort that consists of three different projects. That work includes applying a concrete sealant to the deck, installing a new gutter system on the movable portion of Eltham Bridge, and installing new utility hangers to attach water and sewer pipes under the bridge. Work begins May 20 On Monday, May 20, work will begin. Those on Rt. 30/33 should expect work crews, equipment, and barrels along the route. Starting at 8 a.m., there will be a lane closure for eastbound traffic that will remain in place until noon on Friday, May 24. That closure will return at noon on Tuesday, May 28 runni...
Frederick County deputy injured in Shenandoah dump truck crash
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Frederick County deputy injured in Shenandoah dump truck crash

Although a charge has already been filed, Virginia State Police is still investigating a crash in Shenandoah County involving a dump truck and a police vehicle at the 292 mile marker. The incident occurred this morning around 5:45 on Interstate 81. According to VSP, 71-year-old Gaylon Miller of Toms Brook, was heading north and accidently engaged the dump bed. The raised dump bed hit the Rt. 646 overpass and detached from the truck. The detached bed slid backwards, said VSP, and landed on a northbound 2022 Ford Explorer belonging to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. (Photos: VSP) The deputy, who wasn’t named, was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment. VSP characterized the injuries as minor. Miller wasn’t injured. Thus far, he is charged with reckles...