Library assistant Thinh Vu said he was preparing the building for closing, which was just a few minutes away, when he heard a commotion coming from the book store area. At first, he thought it might be a service dog, but he quickly saw that the six pound chihuahua was simply running loose.
“I thought, great, this is last thing I need during closing time,” Vu said. “I have a dog, I love dogs. It was cute, but it shouldn’t be in the library.”
Police say they received a call for a pedestrian struck on the 5100 block of Lee Highway at 9:12 last night (Tuesday). The victim suffered a head injury and was unconscious when medics arrived. He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he remains in fair condition, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
An investigation determined that the man was intoxicated and was attempting to cross to the north side of Lee Highway mid-block when he was struck by a westbound vehicle in the right lane, according to Sternbeck. The adult female driver of the vehicle remained on scene and was “very cooperative with the accident investigation,” he said.
Owner Lyndsey DePalma had been looking to get out of the corporate world to open a tea house for years. She started the ball rolling about two years ago while in business school and went on to receive her reflexology certification. She wants her business to be a haven for busy individuals looking to escape from daily stress.
“We can actually take 15 minutes, 30 minutes and just relax,” DePalma said. “It’s not just a tea house, it’s an experience, it’s a place to relax.”
Light smoke and flames could be seen coming from the balcony of an apartment on the 16th floor, according to scanner traffic.
Firefighters eventually located the source of the flames — which turned out to be an outdoor potted plant that had somehow caught on fire — and used an extinguisher to put out the flames. Most of the fire equipment that responded to the call is now packing up and clearing the scene, though some road closures may remain for another few minutes.
The accident happened around 11:15 a.m. Traffic camera images show the motorcycle under the truck, but initial reports suggest the motocyclist was able to slide his bike before coming in contact with the truck.
The motorcyclist is being transported to the hospital with what are being described as minor injuries.
The hotel’s cleaning staff discovered the man unresponsive in a bathroom stall around 9:00 a.m. on Monday (Sept. 17). He was sitting on a toilet, slumped against the back wall. Paramedics were called but they were unable to revive the man, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
The man was a resident of Bowie, Md., according to police. It’s not clear whether he was a guest in the hotel.
Update at 3:30 p.m. — Columbia Pike has reopened.
A water main break prompted authorities to shut down a large section of Columbia Pike for most of the morning.
Park Contracts Approved — The Arlington County Board has voted unanimously to approve contracts for improvements to two county parks. The tiny 0.6 acre Nauck Park at 2600 19th Street S. will get a renovated restroom, new swings, a slide and a “spinner bowl.” Virginia Highlands Park, at 1600 S. Hayes Street, will get the county’s fourth “sprayground” park for children. [Arlington County]
Bus Stop Moved Away from Sex Offender — An Arlington mom has succeeded in getting Arlington Public Schools to move her middle-school-aged daughter’s bus stop further away from a convicted sex offender’s house. The stop was six homes away from the man’s house. APS spokeswoman Linda Erdos called WUSA 9’s story on the situation a “cheap shot.” [WUSA 9]
