Fairfax County police are investigating another pedestrian death on Route 1, bringing the death toll along the corridor to six this year.
The most recent incident occurred on Green Leaf Street in the Woodlawn area at about 5:20 a.m. on Monday, March 18.
According to police, Ismael Cortez, 23, of Springfield, was driving a Chevrolet Celebrity northbound on Richmond Highway, in the left through lane. Jose Salamanca, 50, of Russell Road in Woodlawn, was running across Richmond Highway, from west to east, not in the crosswalk, when he was struck. Salamanca was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering from severe head injuries. Neither speed nor alcohol were factors.
Police and medics who responded described the scene as "awful."
According to David Lyons, director of Safe Crossings Campaign, his organization has been working with county officials to rectify the unsafe crossings up and down Route 1.
"It's just another day on Richmond Highway, where the road serves as a life and death obstacle course to citizens who have to use public transportation, shop at local stores, or just cross the street," said Lyons.
"We don't accept the notion that getting killed for being a pedestrian is just part of the risk you run for living in the Richmond Highway corridor. We believe that responsible government agencies have a duty to act when they know the danger that exists on a public roadway," said the director.