Virginia State Police is investigating a chain reaction crash on I-66 near Oakton that happened during last night’s evening rush hour.

The crash — near the Chain Bridge Road exit — involved 14 vehicles, two of which caught fire after the wreck, but only one minor injury was reported.

“At approximately 5:50 p.m., Virginia State Police received a call about a two-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes of I-66 near Exit 60,” said VSP spokeswoman Corinne Geller. “As oncoming traffic swerved to avoid those vehicles and then one another, a chain-reaction crash occurred. In the end, there were 12 vehicles in the chain reaction crash. The last two vehicles caught fire.”

Geller says the crash is still under investigation but charges against at least one of the drivers are pending.

Approx 6 pm last night, crews responded to I-66 EB prior to Rte 123 for report of multiple vehicles involved in a crash w/1 on fire. Units arrived to find 2 cars on fire extending to 3rd car. 14 vehicles involved w/19 passengers total–17 adults and 2 children. No injuries. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/n3t8nv55xo

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 5, 2019

Photo courtesy Virginia State Police

Alexander Ovechkin and some famous Russian friends celebrated the Great Eight’s eighth 50-goal season in style in Tysons Tuesday.

Capitals blog Russian Machine Never Breaks reports that Ovi and friends dined at Sakura Japanese Steak and Seafood House, at the Pike 7 Plaza shopping center near the Greensboro Metro station.

Video of the celebration appears to show Ovi and his party — which included a pair of Russian comedians — enjoying pretty much having the entire restaurant to themselves.

Next up for Ovechkin and the Caps: the NHL playoffs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvxt9H2lJf3/

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A resident called Vienna police to turn in a firearm last week, but the gun turned out to be a starter pistol.

The call went out Friday, March 22, shortly after noon, according to this week’s Vienna Police Department crime report, which details even the most minor police actions in the town.

According to the report, a resident on Woodland Court, NW turned in the starter pistol, which fires blanks to mark the start of races, and police will destroy the gun per the resident’s wishes. Accepting unwanted firearms is a common service provided by local police departments, including in Fairfax County.

Elsewhere in Vienna, this week’s crime report includes a case of a Lewis Street, NW resident who “reported a continuous problem with people banging loudly on the doors and windows of their home and running away,” and an incident on Glyndon Street, NE in which “a resident was walking her dog in the park when another dog in the park escaped its owner’s grasp and knocked over both the resident and her dog.”

Photo via Facebook

(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) Traffic in the Tysons and McLean areas is extraordinarily heavy due to the tanker truck crash on the Beltway.

With the Inner Loop completely blocked before the American Legion Bridge — and the closure and hazmat cleanup expected to continue for hours — traffic is spilling onto other local arteries and bridges.

(As of 3:45 p.m., a single lane of the Inner Loop had been temporarily opened to allow some traffic through.)

A solid line of very heavy traffic has been reported on eastbound Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) from downtown McLean to Chain Bridge, which is also jammed. Arlington County Police have been called to the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and N. Glebe Road to assist with gridlocked traffic.

Elsewhere in McLean, Route 193 (Georgetown Pike) is a virtual parking lot between the Beltway and Route 123. The northbound GW Parkway exit to the Inner Loop is closed, following an earlier, complete closure from Route 123 to the Beltway. And in Arlington, police are responding to reports of very heavy traffic in Rosslyn approaching the Key Bridge.

The Inner Loop itself, meanwhile, is a solid line of slow-to-stopped traffic from Merrifield to the crash scene. VDOT is advising motorists to avoid it altogether.

Folks, do not attempt to get on the Inner Loop at this time. Period. And if a responder is behind you, find a way to move. Period. Your National Capital Region responders are amazing, but they need to get there in order to help. https://t.co/PljWNJgC2L

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019

Virginia State Police say they’ve deployed additional resources to the area to help with traffic control. Drivers should “plan ahead for detours and delays,” VSP said in a press release, which notes that charges are pending in connection to the crash.

At 1:52 p.m. Thursday (March 28), Virginia State Police responded to a crash involving an overturned tanker truck. The crash occurred in the northbound lanes of I-495 at the American Legion Bridge. Another vehicle struck the tanker truck as it overturned in the roadway. Neither the driver of the truck nor other vehicle was injured.

The tanker is loaded with approximately 8,500 gallons of fuel, which must be unloaded/pumped into another tanker before the overturned vehicle can be brought upright and removed from the scene.

Additional Virginia State Police resources have responded to the scene and manage traffic control. VSP is working with VDOT, U.S. Park Police, and Fairfax County Police to detour and redirect travel throughout the area. Motorists are advised to avoid the Inner Loop, northbound I-495 Express Lanes  and the northbound lanes of the American Legion Bridge through evening rush hour.

The crash remains under investigation. Charges are pending.

More via social media:

This is a first for us (and a career highlight)— we’re enroute with 2 of our Incident Management Coordinators (1 is already there) to the overturned tanker at the AL Bridge with two of our spill support trailers. Let’s talk about Traffic Incident Management! pic.twitter.com/fkVxHtKhHq

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019

INCIDENT: Traffic Delays
LOCATION: National Capital Region
IMPACT: A major accident has occurred NB I495 at the American Legion Bridge in Fairfax County. Expect delays and heavy traffic in the region throughout rush hour. pic.twitter.com/OO0E2gWp3e

— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) March 28, 2019

Update at 3:55 p.m. — Tow crews are on scene and one far left lane is now temporarily squeezing by the crash, but VDOT says it will soon completely close the highway again. The closure, which is expected to last throughout the rush hour, is causing serious traffic issues across the area.

The Inner Loop of the Beltway is closed for an extended period of time due to a truck crash prior to the American Legion Bridge.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue say the tanker truck, which overturned on northbound I-495 near the Great Falls exit, is “actively leaking” 8,500 gallons of hazardous fluid, initially reported to be fuel.

Hazmat crews are “aggressively” working to contain the leak, but the Inner Loop is expected to remain closed for at least two hours and possibly longer, well into the evening rush hour.

Only one minor injury was reported.

The crash was caught on a dashcam, per a video posted on social media.

https://twitter.com/LAMillennium/status/1111345425087385601

More from social media:

UPDATE HAZ MAT incident: tanker contains 8500 gallons of product and is activitely leaking. Crews are working aggressively to contain the product and stabilize the incident. #FCFRD https://t.co/jKui9rMAH4

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019

Update: ALL Inner Loop lanes are now closed at the American Legion Bridge. Pls use an alternate route. https://t.co/O13MnmKihO

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019

Multiple vehicles involved, across all five lanes of the inner loop at the Legion Bridge, the tanker truck cab is over the jersey wall, northbound 495 is CLOSED #breakingnews #mdtraffic #vatraffic @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/FbONV99KoX

— ʙʀᴀᴅ ꜰʀᴇɪᴛᴀꜱ (@Chopper4Brad) March 28, 2019

The left lane of the Inner Loop is only temporarily open in order to flush the queue through. Pls assume the American Legion bridge will be closed thru rush hour. Plan accordingly! pic.twitter.com/6wOmMbYmuH

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019

UPDATE HAZ MAT incident I495 NB. Driver of the truck not injured. One minor injury from one of cars. #FCFRD #traffic pic.twitter.com/kTLUzFuioY

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019

Earlier this week we detailed Tysons’ eight districts and the fact that its 3.3 square miles is larger than the area between the Lincoln Memorial, Union Station, and the Wharf in D.C.

Thanks to a tweet from commercial real estate researcher Michael Rodríguez, below, we can now also compare the size of Tysons to Manhattan.

Rotated 90 degrees, the borders of Tysons stretch from the tip of lower Manhattan to 22nd Street, while its top and bottom reach from the Hudson to the East River.

Tysons, with its 30 million square feet of office space, still has a ways to go to catch up to New York City’s 544 million, but already Tysons has more office space than cities like Minneapolis, Baltimore, Tampa and St. Louis, according to the Tysons Partnership. And plenty of additional development is on the way.

https://twitter.com/MRodDC/status/1110998851085840386

https://twitter.com/MRodDC/status/1110985713829511171

A new mixed-use residential and commercial development called Hanover Tysons has been approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The 420-unit project in Tysons’ North Central district was unanimously approved at the Board’s meeting on March 19, the Sun Gazette reported, with Supervisor Linda Smyth (D-Providence) lauding the project for its street grid improvements and its incorporation of a 1.13-acre public park.

As we reported, it had gotten the green light from the Planning Commission five days prior. From that article:

The Hanover Company’s plan is to demolish the vacant seven-story office building that was built in 1983 and replace it with a new residential development.

The new residential building would be between five to seven stories with up to 420 dwelling units and include ground-level retail and nearby park space.

In keeping with Fairfax County’s efforts to promote more affordable housing around Tysons, workforce housing will make up 20 percent of the total units, according to the staff report.

Located just west of Jones Branch Park at 1500 Westbranch Drive, Hanover Tysons is a little under one mile from the Tysons Corner Station.

The county’s Board of Supervisors is set to take up the proposal with a public hearing next Tuesday (March 19).

A string of residential burglaries first reported in December has continued, with 10 additional burglaries that are believed to be related to the initial 13, according to police.

Fairfax County Police say the home burglaries “are committed by a group of professional individuals, mainly targeting victims of Asian or Middle Eastern descent.” They’re asking for the public’s help in solving the crimes.

More from an FCPD press release from late last week (burglaries in the Tysons Reporter coverage area are highlighted in bold.):

Detectives continue to ask for the public’s help in solving numerous residential burglaries in the McLean, Reston, and Fair Oaks police districts. In addition to the 13 addresses we released in December, detectives are also looking at ten other cases that may be related.  Below is a list of the additional cases being investigated:

• 8400 block of Reflection Lane, Vienna
• 8200 block of Falstaff Road, McLean
• 4800 block of Muddler Way, Fairfax
• 12500 block of Cerromar Place, Fairfax
• 1300 block of Earnestine Street, McLean
• 1400 block of Woodhurst Boulevard, McLean
• 7800 block of Loughran Road, McLean
• 9700 block of Middleton Ridge Road, Vienna
• 10000 block of Park Royal Drive, Great Falls
• 1600 block of Admirals Hill Court, Vienna

After the initial burglaries were reported near the end of 2018, officers and detectives increased proactive patrols, met with community members, and continue to remain vigilant in identifying the suspects involved. It is believed that the crimes are committed by a group of professional individuals, mainly targeting victims of Asian or Middle Eastern descent. In many of the cases, detectives found entry was made through the rear door of the victims’ homes. The burglaries occurred primarily in the late afternoon and evening hours. Total losses are in excess of a million dollars.

Anyone with information regarding this recent string of incidents is asked to call the McLean District Station at 703-556-7750, the Reston District Station at 703-478-0904, or the Fair Oaks District Station at 703-591-0966. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). They can also be sent in via text by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). Text STOP to 274637 to cancel, or HELP to 274637 for help. Message and data rates may apply. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1000 if their information leads to an arrest.

For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.

(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) Fairfax County, including Vienna, Pimmit Hills and McLean, was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning as a line of storms rolled through the area Friday afternoon.

The storms brought gusty winds, hail and graupel to Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church.

“That was sudden. I’ve lived here 30 years and I never saw anything like that,” said one local resident at the Greensboro Metro station amid the storm.

More from the National Weather Service:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… LOUDOUN COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… THE CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… * UNTIL 415 PM EDT. * AT 326 PM EDT, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR POINT OF ROCKS TO NEAR BLUEMONT, MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS. SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED. IMPACT…DAMAGING WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES TO FALL. THIS COULD INJURE THOSE OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS DAMAGE HOMES AND VEHICLES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES. LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… GERMANTOWN, CENTREVILLE, ROCKVILLE, BETHESDA, GAITHERSBURG, RESTON, LEESBURG, OLNEY, SOUTH RIDING, HERNDON, FAIRFAX, VIENNA, BROADLANDS, LANSDOWNE, LOWES ISLAND, BRAMBLETON, MANTUA, PIMMIT HILLS, POOLESVILLE AND MCLEAN. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… GET INDOORS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM WIND AND LIGHTNING. TREES AROUND YOU MAY BE DOWNED FROM DAMAGING WINDS, SO IF YOU ARE NEAR LARGE TREES, MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. DON’T DRIVE UNDERNEATH TREES OR IN WOODED AREAS UNTIL THE THREAT HAS PASSED. && HAIL…<.75IN WIND…60MPH

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Germantown MD, Centreville VA, Rockville MD until 4:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/j8AHW54arR

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) March 22, 2019

@dougkammerer hail storm in Vienna…ground now covered…so cool…thunder and lightning not so much. pic.twitter.com/l3rRWNZd1V

— Dan Fredericks (@fmdano74) March 22, 2019

https://twitter.com/marcussimon/status/1109183488530567168

What exactly is going on outside? Snow? Hail? Shnail? Either way, headlights on! pic.twitter.com/TFeniA9GBU

— City of Falls Church (@FallsChurchGov) March 22, 2019