Fairfax Co. Police Condcut Traffic Safety Campaign After Teen Driver Almost Kills Officer

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County police conducted a “50 Means 50” speed enforcement campaign on the Fairfax County Parkway last week after a police officer was nearly killed during a traffic stop on May 1.

During the week-long campaign to deter dangerous driving behavior, police officers issued 890 traffic summonses and 163 warning tickets.

The enforcement campaign was held a week after a 17-year-old was traveling northbound on the Fairfax County Parkway near Braddock Road at about 120 mph and then lost control of their 2018 BMW M3, police said. The speed limit on that section of the parkway is 50 mph.

After the teen lost control, their BMW spun around, crossed the median, and then struck another driver’s car and the police officer’s vehicle, both of which were stopped on the shoulder of the road. The police officer acted quickly to avoid getting crushed by the BMW.

The police officer and the person inside the car stopped on the side of the Fairfax County Parkway suffered only minor injuries, police said.

Video of the crash was captured by the camera in the police officer's car. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said it was a miracle that the police officer avoided serious injury and death in the incident.

Fairfax County police said last week's campaign was held in response to the incident with the teen driver, along with the increased reckless driving incidents seen by police across the county.

“This high-visibility and coordinated enforcement campaign centered around deterring aggressive driving, reducing crashes, and changing driving behavior,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Officers from across the county participated in the effort, with a focus on speeding, reckless speeding, hands-free violations, and licensing violations.