Updated at 8:40 p.m. — The 17-year-old driver who crashed on Pioneer Lane this morning was arrested for driving under the influence, but the Fairfax County Police Department says it will wait to officially file charges after consulting with the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
“Charges are pending as the investigation continues,” the FCPD said in a news release. “Detectives believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.”
Earlier: Six teens have been taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries resulting from a crash on a residential street in Idylwood.
Police and fire responders were dispatched to Pioneer Lane at Roswell Drive shortly before 5 a.m. today (Monday), according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
“One vehicle overturned. It looks like multiple passengers have been ejected. Fire department is on the way,” a dispatcher said at 4:56 a.m.
Officers and firefighters at the scene reported finding one person in the vehicle and multiple individuals laying in the road, including one boy who was conscious but bleeding from the nose. One of the ejected passengers was unconscious but was breathing and had a pulse.
The responders determined that there had been seven people in the car, all juveniles. A firefighter confirmed at 5:13 a.m. that the one person who didn’t need treatment was the driver, per the scanner.
On the scanner, officers said the crash appeared to have started on Shreve Road, reporting that “some of the patients were over 100 yards apart.”
1 juvenile has been arrested. Detectives continue to investigate. #FCPD
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) November 20, 2023
The Fairfax County Police Department said at 6:16 a.m. that one teen has been arrested. Lt. James Curry confirmed in an 8:25 a.m. media briefing that the arrested teen was the driver and has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Based on a preliminary investigation, police believe the Lincoln SUV “crested” a hill on Shreve Road at a “very high rate of speed,” lost control and crashed into a tree. As the vehicle spun around, five passengers who police say weren’t wearing seatbelts got ejected.
“What’s clear is that speed and alcohol were absolutely factors in this crash, and sadly, without seatbelts being worn for the occupants, that’s what likely led to some significant, serious injuries,” Curry said.
Everyone involved in the crash was between 14 and 17 years old, according to Curry. Some of those involved were family members, while others were friends. Curry said detectives believe the driver doesn’t have a license, though the circumstances leading up to the crash are still under investigation.
Curry noted that the FCPD prepares for increased DUI incidents every holiday season, particularly on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
“The assumption is that it’s adults who are out drinking, and it’s easy to forget that juveniles do partake in alcohol illegally,” Curry said. “It’s an important reminder that kids need to be responsible, parents need to have conversations with their loved ones, make sure they’re safe, and it’s a sad reminder that we need to wear seatbelts.”
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