Herndon Ambulance Crash Kills Sterling Resident, Driver Charged

HERNDON, VA — A crash with an ambulance in Herndon Tuesday killed a Sterling resident, leading to charges for the car driver.

The crash happened around 4:05 p.m. Tuesday at Worldgate Driver and Alton Square in the Town of Herndon. A Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department ambulance was involved in the crash with a Hyundai.

A police investigation found the ambulance was responding to a medical emergency and had its emergency equipment activated when it attempted to turn onto Alton Square. Police say the 2007 Hyundai driver did not yield the right of way to the ambulance and struck it.

The Hyundai front passenger, Irvin Escobar Lujuan, 35, of Sterling, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead. The Hyundai driver, Jose Lopez Martinez, 23, of Nokesville, was taken to the hospital in non-life-threatening condition. Lopez Martinez was charged with driving while intoxicated - 2nd in Five Years.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said two of its personnel were also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police preliminarily believe alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.

Anyone with information about the crash can contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543 or submit a tip through Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477) or online at fairfaxcrimesolvers.org.