Fairfax County Motor Officer Seriously Injured In Braddock Road Crash

Updated: 4:30 p.m.

FAIRFAX, VA — A veteran Fairfax County Police motor officer was seriously injured after his motorcycle crashed into the back of an SUV traveling westbound on Braddock Road on Friday near the George Mason University campus in Fairfax.

Around 12:36 p.m., two officers in FCPD's motor squad were traveling westbound on Braddock Road in response to a barricade incident in the Centreville area, according to Lt. Daniel Spital, the commander of FCPD's Public Affairs Bureau.

"They were in the right lane of Braddock Road, with their lights and sirens on," he said, during a 2:45 p.m. news conference at the scene of the crash near the intersection of Roanoke River Road. "A silver Jeep was in the center lane of Braddock and then changed lanes into the right lane."

One of the motor officers was able to swerve away from the Jeep, but the other was unable to avoid a collision and struck the back of the vehicle. The officer was thrown from his bike and then hit the pavement in front of him.

"The other officer provided critical care immediately, and our fire and rescue department arrived on scene very quickly," Spital said.

The officer was medevacted to a nearby hospital to be treated for serious injuries.

"It is still serious," Spital said. "But at this point, he's conscious and alert. We're just praying for a speedy recovery and we're hopeful that he will make a quick recovery.

Following the crash, the driver of the Jeep remained on the scene and was cooperating with members of the Crash Reconstruction Unit, who were investigating the incident. No other injuries were reported and no charges have been filed.

"There's no indication at this point that alcohol or speed were a factor here," Spital said. "Our detectives are just really trying to look at the circumstances that led up to the crash, why the driver of the vehicle changed lanes in front of the officers. As soon as we can determine that, speak to all the witnesses that have come forward, we can get a better idea of exactly how this accident occurred."

Spital described the officer who was injured as a veteran of the force, who has been with the department for 16 to 17 years and is an instructor in the motor division.

"It's just an unfortunate set of circumstances where we believe the driver was trying to get out of the way of the lights and sirens that he heard behind him," Spital said. "But he change lanes, unfortunately, right into the officers, and then that's when the officer struck the back of the vehicle."

Braddock Road reopened to traffic around 3:30 p.m., after being closed for several hours to allow detectives to conduct their investigation of the crash.

Officers are on scene of crash involving an FCPD motor officer at Braddock Rd & Roanoke River Rd. Officer taken to hospital with serious injuries. Braddock Rd is closed. Please use another route. pic.twitter.com/UT8Hfq7PbR
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 9, 2022