11 Die On Virginia Roads Over Memorial Day Weekend 2019: Police

RICHMOND, VA—Eleven people were killed in nine crashes on Virginia roads during the Memorial Day weekend, including three people on motorcycles in Northern Virginia, according to Virginia State Police. There were 663 total crashes during the holiday weekend that officially began 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 24, and ended midnight Monday, May 27.

The fatal crashes were in the counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Albemarle, Clarke, Isle of Wight, King and Queen and the City of Virginia Beach. The six state-wide deaths of people on motorcycles included a driver and passenger from Loudoun County Sunday afternoon, May 26, just off the George Washington Parkway. And on Friday, May 24, a Hampton man was killed when his motorcycle collided with a van on Washington Boulevard in Arlington.

"Tragically, Virginia has witnessed an alarming loss of life in recent days as a result of traffic crashes," Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, said in a release. "There are not only entire families, but entire communities, mourning the deaths of those lost in a fatal traffic crash.

"More than 300 individuals have already been killed in traffic crashes this year in Virginia. That should give every driver in Virginia 300 reasons as to why it's so important to drive to save lives on our highways. As we embark on the busy summer travel season, please drive smart, safe and sober."

Eleven people also died in crashes on Virginia roads during last year's Memorial Day weekend. That was an increase from the eight in both 2017 and 2016. None of last year's deaths were in the Northern Virginia area. The highest number of Memorial Day weekend deaths since 2013 was 14 in 2015.

For this past weekend, police cited 8,270 speeders, 2,548 reckless drivers, 75 drunk drivers and 961 seat-belt violators. Police also assisted 2,405 disabled motorists.