Jeffrey Ponce Aguilar of Alexandria, 26, was struck by a Fairfax County Police Department marked cruiser around 11 p.m. Saturday night, April 2.
The cruiser, driven by a two-year veteran officer on routine patrol duty out of the Franconia District Station, was traveling northbound on Beulah Street when Aguilar stepped in front of it and into the intersection at Old Beulah Street, police said. Aguilar crossed against the green light and the officer wasn’t able to avoid hitting him.
First responders transported Aguilar to Inova Franconia-Springfield Healthplex, but he was pronounced dead at 11:44 p.m.
In a press conference at the Fairfax County Government center early in the evening on April 3, Police Chief Edwin Roessler told media there are two separate investigations underway. One is by the Crash Reconstruction Unit to decide whether the crash was preventable.
Though that investigation is ongoing, Roessler said, “Unfortunately accidents do happen and there’s a tragic loss of life here with Mr. Aguilar.” The Chief said conditions at the time of the crash included heavy rain and dim lighting.
The second investigation is by the police Internal Affairs Bureau, Roessler said, determining whether the officer was in compliance with the General Order on police vehicles.
“Each officer drives if not tens of thousands of miles each year through the roadways of Fairfax County,” Roessler said. “We invest a lot of time in our drivers” he said, to ensure they will “drive safely and be aware.”
With the investigations ongoing, Roessler said it’s still unknown whether speed or alcohol were contributing factors for either the unnamed officer or Aguilar.