"[T]he moving van came to a stop on the road's medium." Really? Are you sure the moving van didn't come to a stop on the road's "median" instead, Kafia?

This passes for writing these days, to say nothing of editing?

Wow, those newspaper budget cuts are really taking their toll...

Posted by bmcconnell1 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Correction, it is median, as in middle.

Posted by edwardallen54 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dear bmcconnell1 -

It really isn't necessary (unless this individual did something really bad to you) to ruin his/her day by picking on that person. Just make the correction and move on; there isn't really any need to sling an insult at the same time, wouldn't you agree?

Posted by acad301 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i agree!!!

Posted by kmaja.001 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This writer is the author of numerous articles in Loudon Extra, and s(he) routinely mispells or misuses words--for example, see comments for "Woman Plows Into Leesburg DMV Office." I agree they shouldn't be picked on, but the bar should be higher for a news article and more care could be applied to their work.

Posted by signof4 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Certainly one (or perhaps even both) of these vehicles were overloaded with passengers.

Posted by segeny (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Shortly after 5 p.m., Belmont Ridge Road at Creighton Road is now open...

Grammar check, anyone?

Posted by waterfrontproperty (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

People are hurt and you are being grammar nazis. If you want the job point out the errors to the editor and fill out an application. No need to be a jerk with a red pen. I send my best to the families of those involved.

Posted by DCMark1 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Shame there's not a hospital at that intersection.

Posted by dingus5 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is a quote from Loudoun Times regarding this accident:

"Six people are in critical condition with life threatening injuries after a vehicle crash on Belmont Ridge Road at Creighton Road in Ashburn".

My heart goes out to the injured and their families. I hope they will recover from these severe injuries.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

how do u get 9 people injured from a moving van and a pickup truck? were there people in the back of the truck or van? were there more there that weren't injured?

Posted by wpost456 (anonymous) on July 20, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Who is the driver? I can understand not printing the names of the victim, but most accident reports of this magnitude include the name of the driver.

Makes you wonder if this is yet another incident of an unlicensed driver.

Posted by asmith1 (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Kudos to Co. 9 Arcola-Pleasant Valley Vol. Fire & Rescue. Thank you for your service!

Posted by jmufan87 (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

@asmith you win! Driver - unlicensed and suspected illegal. As are most of the victims in both trucks.

From the Sherrif's Office release:

"Around 12:47 p.m. a 2000 Ford pick-up was traveling southbound on Belmont Ridge Road when it was struck on the passenger side by a 1989 Ford E350 box van that was traveling eastbound on Creighton Road. A preliminary investigation reveals that the moving truck ran a stop sign at the intersection of the two roadways.

The driver of the box van, Aldo Fabian Arroyo-Hernandez, 26, of Herndon, was charged with Reckless Driving, Driving Unlicensed, and Failing to Obtain a Virginia License. Arroyo-Hernandez was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

The driver of the pick-up, Aaron Castelan Mendoza, 23, of Annapolis, MD was transported to the Cornwall Campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital, but was later transferred to the Lansdowne Campus of INOVA Lansdowne Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

Two passengers in the box truck, Jose Amides Ayala-Mejia and Jose Armando Romero were airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries. At this stage of the investigation, it does not appear the either were wearing seatbelts. Porfirio Manchame, 33, was ground transported to the Lansdowne campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital but was later transferred to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he is listed in critical condition. He also was not believed to have been wearing a seatbelt. This vehicle was not equipped with airbags.

In the Ford pickup, Omar Cruz Castelan, 24, of Manassas, was seated in the rear center seat of the crew-cab pickup. He was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he was treated and released. Passengers, Roberto Castelan, 20, of unknown address; and Andres Galacia Rivera, 22, of Manassas, were also airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where both are in critical condition. Santiago Rojas, 20, of unknown address, was ground transported to INOVA Cornwall Hospital where he was later transferred to INOVA Fairfax Hospital and is listed in critical condition. None of these passengers are believed to have been wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The airbags in the Ford pickup did deploy.

Route 659 was closed down as Sheriff’s Deputies worked for over four hours to collect scene evidence and clear the roadway. Investigation into the incident continues as members of the Crash Reconstruction Unit look into the incident."

Posted by SavedByZero (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How many laws were broken with regards to this incident, and who will pay for the investigations & medical care?

The taxpayer

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

interesting that Inova Loudoun couldn't treat the more serious injuries- what are they missing that serious injuries have to always be transferred out of there...?

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tttrenee- Loudoun does not have a trauma center.

Posted by truthseekerva (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The vehicles did not seem to be that damaged. The lesson I take away is that seat belts are more useful than big heavy vehicles for protecting the occupants. The SUV owners who bought large for safety might want to take note.

Posted by edward (anonymous) on July 21, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All else being equal, a heavier vehicle will safer. F=ma. Force (F) is equal on both objects colliding. Mass (m) is different, thus the acceleration (a) is different accordingly. Summary: F = m1 * a1 = m2 * a2. You'd understand if you took Physics.

Posted by locksmith (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All else isn't equal because deceleration against a dashboard or windshield instead of an airbag generates a greater force on one's body over a shorter period of time which leads to greater internal damage to the brain. Likewise a stiff framed vehicle (e.g. truck) has less give so all the forces transmit to the occupants whereas a vehicle that compresses in a collision spreads that force over time and distance reducing the damage to the occupants even if the occupants face is embedded in the windshield because they didn't have a seatbelt on. Locksmith's analysis only looks at vehicles; a better safety analysis would look at the forces on each occupant.

Posted by edward (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Illegal aliens cost Loudon Co tax dollars. Now theres a headline!

Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We hope and pray that all the injured people will recover and be all right.

Posted by beth8 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First of all keep dumb comments to yourself. The most important thing is that these people are ok and for those who obviously never graduated the pick up truck holds six passengers and the box van holds three, do the math that's nine. Let me guess you're not that smart. As for the Taxpayer think about if you were one of the nine, or any number for that matter. If you want to complain about your taxes fine but when it involves the lives of people you know nothing about illegal or legal keep it to yourself, these people are what ruin our society. I can say comments from UnfunnyGuys and idiots like the ones I have read here should be removed you are a disgrace to the American people.

Posted by mna52 (anonymous) on July 22, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MNA52, please don't insult education levels of people you do not know and have not achieved.

Posted by darrenandmichelle (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 4:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

darrenandmichelle how about you never comment on anything again and go get that G.E.D you have always wanted.

Posted by mna52 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

mna52? I am a citizen of MY United States and I earned and paid for the right of free speech by serving my country, state and community! Paying my taxes and being a hard working contributing member of MY United States!

Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

mna52, remember that sentiment when somebody you know gets killed or maimed by an illegal here driving without a license, insurance, and the monetary means to back up their wrecklessness (or carelessness).

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Every insured Virginia car owner has uninsured motorist protection which pays damages and medical when the at-fault driver does not have insurance. The only people financially at risk here are those without insurance (which may be all 9, by the sound of it.) Sure if there is no medical or car insurance taxpayers will have to foot the initial emergency room care but long-term rehabilitation and loss of wages will be borne by the accident victims. Compassion for the men and their families is in order.

Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Quote: mna52? "I am a citizen of MY United States and I earned and paid for the right of free speech by serving my country, state and community! Paying my taxes and being a hard working contributing member of MY United States!"

Maybe so, but you did not earn the right to tell everyone else to keep their comments to themselves simply because you don't agree...get a clue.

I had a family member who was badly injured when an illegal hit him head-on. The SOB ran.

I also remember driving down Herndon Parkway shortly after the illegal plowed down and killed Mr. Passarelli a couple of years ago.

To me, the most important thing is that my family, friends and fellow legal citizens are safe from illgal, unlicensed drivers who all too often run and are not held accountable once they injure or kill someone.

Posted by JustMeSterling (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To Funnyguyva,

I'm sure somewhere down your ancestry line, you will find out that your mama or your mama's mama's mama was an illegal alien. We all migrated from another country. So why do you spend your life choosing to hate-on other people who want to live here (whether legal or illegal). Your name should be misery-man instead of funnyguyva because you are not funny at all, you are a hater. I'm tired of people thinking that so called "illegal aliens" are the cause of everything. I find that "illegal aliens" are gainfully employed and are doing some great things for this country.

Posted by Purpledaze (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Think of all the drywall and roof repairs that won't be completed now. Should we start requiring cars to be equipped with signs in spanish that tell folks to buckle up?

Posted by RightWinger1 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UNFUNNYGUY,

Congrats you know your rights. We all have the same ones and with mine I chose to point out your ignorance and how much you have ruined our country. I would suggest getting a better act next time though your jokes are the worst anyone has ever read.

Posted by mna52 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfunnyguy,

If the SOB ran how did you know he was illegal, Oh right you didn't think that one through either. No one ejoys a bad fish story.

Posted by mna52 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't take the bait from UNFUNNYGUY. He enjoys trolling all the WP stories just to add his neo-facist illegal alien or "that's my tax dollars" comments daily to any Loudoun story he can, never adding any real info or comment to the story at hand. Probably another "joe-the-plumber" unemployed and not even paying any taxes, but will always be the first in line to yell out those "Birther" comments at the
tea-bagger parties! Oh, now come back with some witless personal attack of your own on me... please take the bait... please!!!

Posted by vanzal1 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is Bush's fault!

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 5:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

mna52,
I am not Unfunny guy but I think you are commenting to me. To answer your question, I know he was an illegal because the owner of the landscaping company that hired him said he was an illegal. After drove down the road then jumped out of the vehicle and ran, the other workers did come back to help and they knew why the driver ran. I really don't give a rat's a$$ if you believe me or not.
Fact is, many of these illegals would just as soon leave you for dead in an accident than to stop and help-risking owning up to authorities.
My other example about Mr. Passarelli is the same situation (only he lost his life). It is possible if the illegal had stopped on impact, Mr. Passarelli might have lived. But instead he kept going and dragged the man until he fell free from the vehicle and then left him lying in the road until a taxicab driver found his body.

Posted by JustMeSterling (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

you are all retarded who the hell cares if they are illegal or not! I for one can tell you because I know some of the men injured they are not illegal so STFU! I wish you would see beyond race, color, or anything. If the driver of the van's last name was Smith no one would have their panties in a bunch talking about my tax dollars here and my tax dollars there. What about your tax dollars that are going to people who are on welfare and the drug dealers that are unemployment claiming unemployment, social security and disability. How about that one Funnyguyva and JustMeSterling. How about you bitch and complain about them. If the driver of the van was Mr Alan Smith and hit an illegal there would be no freaking comments. Unless theyre ones like thats what that illegal gets for driving without a license or some kind of BS

Posted by jbenitez04 (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jbenitez, Now tell me, who is "getting their panties in a bunch" more than you are? How old are you anyway? "I don't like what you all are saying so you need to STFU"...grow up!

I do have issues with my tax dollars being wasted on Welfare, WIC, Public Education and ther rest. ESPECIALLY when I see a pregnant woman that can't even speak English cashing in a stack of WIC checks with a bunch of little screaming anchor babies all around her while I wait in line to pay hard earned cash for my groceries...I'll bet that comment burns your A$$ but it is my opinion and I don't apoligize for it.

But yes there are a lot of wasted tax dollars on deadbeats both illegal and legal alike and just because we didn't go off topic here and complain about it does not mean we don't recognize it. And just because there is the wasted tax dollar problem doesn't mean we should ignore all the other issues that might offend illegals and illegal lovers.

Posted by JustMeSterling (anonymous) on August 5, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)