BREAKING NEWS -- Rollover Accident on Route 50

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by ARLnow.com March 2, 2012 at 10:05 am 6,513 36 Comments

(Updated at 10:55 a.m.) Police and firefighters are on the scene of a two vehicle rollover accident on Route 50 near Park Drive.

The initial police investigation indicates that the driver of an SUV suffered a medical emergency and collided head-on with a Saab while going the wrong way on Route 50, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. The SUV flipped on its side as a result of the accident, and the female driver had to be extricated by firefighters. She was taken via ambulance to a local hospital.

The driver of the Saab appears to have suffered only bumps and bruises.

All lanes of Route 50 are expected to be back open by 11:00 a.m.

SimplyDusty

Because the construction and road patching in that area is a DISASTER. It was only a matter of time.
- Swag
  
  On Pershing, yeah, that shiat is insane. I know they don’t want to pave it until construction is done, but would it kill them to at least mill it?
  - Annie
    
    but the accident is on 50 – more towards Park Drive, not Pershing
Annie

just drove by it – it’s pretty bad. i think it has less to do with potholes than it does with going 60mph+ on Route 50
- CrystalMikey
  
  Or trying to beat that short left turn light from 50W onto Pershing.
  - CrystalMikey
    
    Correction, 50E.
  - Smithers
    
    this appears to be by the other Pershing / 50 intersection – down by S. Park Dr / Henderson / Outback Steakhouse.
    - Smithers
      
      I do hate that left turn light though. Seems like since they replaced the signal “wires” with “poles” – the timing is off – it is giving a green light to Ft. Myer / Henderson Hall even though that entrance / exit is closed.
      - grammar nazi
        
        “Why” all the “quote marks?”
JamesE

All automatics I am sure of it.
MC 703

Oh sheet double Pershing!

I used to commute out 50 in the AM to Falls Church everyday. Not sure if someone crossed the center here but those 3 separating cars going 55+ always freaked me out a bit.
- CrystalMikey
  
  Yeah, I commute out to Fairfax city everyday and it kills me how 50 is designed on that stretch. Can we at least get a middle turn lane?
  - SteveP
    
    The intersection of Park and Rt 50 has a turn lane both east and west bound. As far as intersections on Rt 50 goes, I’d have to say that’s one of the safer ones.
    
    I cross on foot there and at Henderson Rd frequently and there are plenty of people who run reds at both or turn onto Rt 50 before looking for people in the crosswalk (I always wait for the pedestrian light), but I don’t blame the intersection design for stupid behavior. The Henderson intersection is fine as well when people obey the no turn signs, but they frequently do not, causing all sorts of close calls.
    
    Anyhow, for the accident, not sure what happened. Maybe the driver was moving into the turn lane and jumped the median (Rt 50 actually has a grass/cement median here)?
- MC 703
  
  Well there you go – exactly what I always feared when making the daily commute. Driver blacks out, drifts into head-on traffic, buzzing by also at 55+mph, 3ft away.
  
  If this is the result of a previously-known medical condition with the potential for a blackout, would the driver be on the hook and charged?
jerome smiff

SUV traveling WB in the EB lanes caused the accident.
- Arlingtoon
  
  That’ll do it.
  - nunya
    
    yesssir
    
    hope the drivers are ok.
Dude Where’s My Car

A head-on collision at speed, and the Saab driver walks away with bumps and bruises?

Does this mean Saabs are tanks? Or do they have some kind of Guardian Angel trim package?
- Wiz
  
  It looks more like an offset crash, not a square head-on collision. The driver’s side door even looks like it opened normally. That’s the benefit of modern safety system design!
- Swag
  
  Actually, the SUV probably used the Saab like a ramp.
  - James in EFC
    
    And Saabs are generally considered to be one of the “safer” cars (that used to be) on the market.
Overgrown Bush

It is also reported that the buzzards have now relocated over the scene.
- speonjosh
  
  3/5 stars.
- Clarendon Cruiser
  
  Did somebody mention lawyers????
ArlForester

That’s my hood, yo.
- Have house, won’t sell.
  
  +1 “Hood, yo.” I see what you did there.
NrNy2ArlVa

Something to make you go hmmmm, this is the second accident in less than a week caused by a medical emergency.
ArlingtonNative

Medical Emergency seems to be quickly becoming the new euphemism for; talking on phone, texting, spilling coffee, putting on make-up … and oh yeah, actual medical emergencies!

Can’t tell from pics … what type of SUV is that? CRV or Mazda something?
- Jim
  
  Looks to me like a Hyundai Santa Fe.
  - CrystalMikey
    
    Toyota Rav4
jerome smiff

The Saab was actually stopped when it was hit. The driver saw the SUV coming and took some evasive action. It could have been MUCH worse.
Bimmie Zondi

Should have listened to me. A streetcar system would be better and would avoid these constant car flippings causing an increase in the vultures in Arlington. Oh, the humanity………

If you still are not convinced please visit me at the Arlington Bistro Tap Room to discuss it further over some locally brewed beer, with a side of cupcake.
DarkHeart

Did the county deploy their truck with the jet engine fuel cleaner/dryer thingy?
- Juan Pablo Montoya
  
  I hope not, those things are dangerous!!
  - HughJassPhD
    
    +1
Ashton Heights

If we had streetcars on Route 50 we’d probably have streetcar rollovers.

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