11 Killed In VA Crashes Over July 4, 2025 Holiday

RICHMOND, VA — Eleven people died in nine crashes on Virginia roads over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Virginia State Police said. The accidents happened between July 3 and 6.

There were two double fatal crashes: one involving an all-terrain vehicle in Orange County on July 4, and a wrong-way head-on collision in the Express Lanes of Interstate 495 on July 6, a state police news release said.

The head-on crash in Fairfax County happened about 2:34 a.m. Sunday when a 2017 Ford Edge driver was heading south in the northbound lanes and struck a 2004 Jeep Patriot head-on, authorities said. The Ford driver, Tremayne D. Gross, 24, of Washington, D.C., and the Jeep driver, Meghan Elizabeth N. Mathis, 32, of Westminister, Maryland, died at the scene. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

There was also a pedestrian fatal crash in Buckingham County on July 4.

The fatal crashes occurred in Amelia, Buckingham, Clarke, Fairfax, Henrico, King William, Orange, Prince Edward, and Spotsylvania Counties.

Last year, during the five-day holiday period, there were ten traffic fatalities.

“Even one fatality is one too many, but 11 deaths are extremely alarming,” said Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, superintendent of Virginia State Police. “Sadly, these tragedies are preventable. We urge everyone to avoid distractions, slow down, buckle up, and drive sober. Our main concern is your safety.”

Related: 2 Killed In Capital Beltway Express Lanes Head-On Crash

During the 2025 Operation CARE initiative for the Fourth of July holiday, troopers cited nearly 3,000 drivers (2,959) for speeding and 1,411 drivers for reckless driving. And they arrested 73 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

State police also issued 505 citations for failure to wear a seatbelt.

Virginia law changed July 1 to require all passengers, no matter where they are seated in a vehicle, to wear a seatbelt.

There were also 135 citations for child restraint violations.

Operation CARE (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) is a state-sponsored, national program intended to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries due to impaired driving, speeding and failing to wear a seat belt.

State police investigated 879 total traffic crashes statewide and assisted 701 motorists during the Fourth of July counting period.

Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.

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