DUMFRIES, Va. – A chaotic early morning on Monday, June 9, 2025, began with a violent crash on Interstate 95 and was followed just an hour later by a shooting at a nearby motel.
Shortly after midnight, a semi-truck barreled through a police traffic stop on southbound I-95 near Exit 150 at Quantico Marine Corps Base. The truck struck multiple Virginia State Police county police cruisers and injured several officers, one of whom suffered serious head and arm injuries. At least five cruisers were reportedly damaged, and at least two vehicles caught fire. Authorities shut down all southbound lanes as emergency crews responded.
Just after 1 a.m., while police were still working the crash scene, officers were called to the Red Carpet Inn on Dumfries Road for a reported shooting. They found a 20-year-old man who had been shot in the stomach following a fight at the motel. Police reportedly found the victim in a conscious state in the motel lobby when they arrived.
Police say the two incidents are unrelated, but both remain under investigation.
No arrests have been announced in the shooting, and the cause of the crash involving the semi-truck is still unclear.
This is a developing story. Check back with Potomac Local News for updates.
STAFFORD, Va. – Virginia State Police are investigating a serious three-vehicle crash that shut down local northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near the Rappahannock River Bridge on Saturday night.
The crash happened at 8:25 p.m. on May 17 at mile marker 132, just north of Fredericksburg. According to police, a 2007 Mazda Speed 3 was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver attempted to squeeze between two vehicles—a Hyundai Palisade in the left lane and an unknown vehicle in the middle lane. The Mazda collided with the Hyundai, causing it to flip onto the guardrail.
The driver of the Mazda, 23-year-old Joseph T. Celich of Stafford, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car. As he lay in the roadway, a 2017 Nissan Sentra traveling northbound struck him and then collided with the wrecked Mazda. Celich was transported to Mary Washington Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A 24-year-old female passenger in the Mazda, also not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected and sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She was also taken to Mary Washington Hospital.
The Hyundai’s driver, a 42-year-old man from Alexandria, and his four passengers—including three children—suffered minor injuries and were all transported to the hospital. Police said everyone in the Hyundai was properly restrained.
The 17-year-old male driver of the Nissan was not injured and had been wearing a seatbelt.
Virginia State Police say charges are pending as the investigation continues.
On December 5, 2024, deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash on Patriot Highway, involving a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and a 2005 International flatbed truck. The driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced dead at the scene, and the incident is under investigation by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit.
Press Release from Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office:
On December 5, 2024, at approximately 1:40 pm, deputies with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Patriot Highway and Orchard Ridge Drive for a report of a motor vehicle crash. Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit responded to the crash scene. Preliminary investigation shows that a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado operated by William Aimino was traveling north on Patriot Highway, and crossed over the centerline of the roadway into opposing lanes of traffic, causing a head-on crash with a 2005 International flatbed truck. Mr. Aimino was pronounced deceased on the scene and was found to be wearing his seatbelt. Mr. Aimino’s next of kin has been notified. The case is still under investigation by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit. Sheriff Roger Harris and the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office extend their condolences to Mr. Aimino’s family and friends for their loss.
