Virginia State Police Archives - Potomac Local News

Jury Convicts Man In 2023 I-95 Killing

Published February 5, 2026 at 1:42PM

The Judicial Center for Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office issued statements this week on two separate criminal cases, announcing a jury verdict in a deadly 2023 abduction and homicide and sentencing in a decades-old cold case involving abduction and rape.

In the first case, a Prince William County jury on February 4, 2026, convicted Michael C. Davis, 38, of second-degree murder, abduction, three counts of attempted aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer, 10 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and felony eluding. The charges stem from the April 5, 2023, abduction and killing of Tatiana David and a pursuit involving Virginia State Police that ended in Prince William County. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Traffic

State police respond to hundreds of crashes during Virginia winter storm

By Mauriah Church-Barbour

Published January 26, 2026 at 1:00AM | Updated January 26, 2026 at 12:36PM

Virginia State Police are urging residents to stay off the roads as a winter storm continues to impact the state, leading to hundreds of traffic crashes. Since the start of the storm, troopers have responded to 475 crashes across the Commonwealth as of 11 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2026.

Of those crashes, 36 involved injuries and two resulted in fatalities. One fatal crash occurred in Fairfax County on Saturday evening, though police say weather was not a factor. The second fatality happened in Pittsylvania County on Sunday evening, and storm conditions may have played a role. State Police are investigating both incidents.

Traffic

Fairfax County Crash Claims Life Amid 378 Wrecks in Virginia Winter Storm

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 25, 2026 at 9:39PM

Virginia State Police called to a crash.

A fatal crash in Fairfax County led to Virginia State Police activity during a winter storm that continued to blanket much of the state Sunday. Officials said the crash, which occurred Saturday night, is not believed to be weather-related. No other details were immediately provided.

Despite the weather not playing a role in that fatal crash, the storm has created hazardous driving conditions statewide. From Saturday into Sunday night, troopers responded to 378 crashes, including 28 with injuries, as snow and ice made travel dangerous. Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads through Monday morning.

Traffic

At least six crashes trigger hours-long gridlock near Quantico and Garrisonville Road

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 9, 2026 at 9:30AM

A crash at Taylor's Grocery on Route 1 in North Stafford was one of six crashes that snarled area roads for hours on Thursday, January 8, 2026. [Reader submitted photo]

A series of crashes across Interstate 95 and nearby roadways caused severe northbound traffic gridlock in North Stafford and the Quantico area for hours during Thursday evening’s rush hour.

Spotsylvania

Multi-vehicle crash involving tractor-trailer shuts down I-95 in Spotsylvania

By Potomac Local News

Published December 2, 2025 at 1:02PM | Updated December 2, 2025 at 2:20PM

A crash involving four vehicles — including a tractor-trailer — shut down all southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County on Tuesday morning, causing major traffic delays.

According to the Virginia State Police, the crash happened around 8:54 a.m. at mile marker 120. Investigators say the incident began when an unknown white pickup truck bumped into a Nissan Kicks, causing it to hit a guardrail, spin out, and strike a Toyota Highlander. The Highlander was then hit by a tractor-trailer.

Prince William

Alexandria man surrenders in fatal 2023 hit-and-run on I-95 in Prince William

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 30, 2025 at 4:05PM

James A. Puryear, 50, of Alexandria, turned himself in Thursday morning, October 30, 2025, at the Prince William – Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center. Puryear is charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred nearly two years ago on Interstate 95 southbound in Prince William County.

The crash happened at 5:05 a.m. on November 19, 2023, near the 158-mile marker. Investigators say a 2005 Infiniti G35 sideswiped a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer, causing it to leave the roadway, hit a guardrail, and strike a support column. The truck driver, Trenton E. Schnakenberg, 31, of Caret, died at the scene. The driver of the Infiniti fled before authorities arrived.

Breaking News

Reckless driver leads troopers on early-morning chase through Prince William and into D.C.

By Press Release

Published October 1, 2025 at 11:49AM

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A Virginia State Police trooper tried to pull over a reckless driver on Interstate 95 early this morning, but the driver took off—leading troopers on a wild chase through Prince William County and into Washington, D.C.

The pursuit began around 4:48 a.m. near mile marker 162 on I-95 southbound. The suspect exited at Prince William Parkway, drove through several county roads, then jumped onto Route 123 heading toward Route 1 and back onto I-95—this time going northbound.

Traffic

Woodbridge woman injured on fatal crash on Interstate 395 in Alexandria

By Press Release

Published September 23, 2025 at 8:36PM

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday (Sept. 20, 2025) at 2:20 a.m. on Interstate 395 southbound in the City of Alexandria.

A 2008 Toyota Corolla crashed and became disabled in the southbound lanes near the three-mile-marker. This crash was not reported to law enforcement. A 2021 Hyundai Venue travelling southbound at a high rate of speed then struck the disabled Corolla.

Traffic

Fatal Crash on I-95 Near Quantico Now Under State Police Investigation

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 20, 2025 at 2:59PM

I-95 looking south

QUANTICO, Va. – The Virginia State Police just confirmed to Potomac Local News that a crash early Saturday morning on I-95 near Quantico claimed one life and is now under active investigation.

The crash happened around 1:18 a.m. on August 16 in the northbound lanes at mile marker 148.9 in Prince William County. While Stafford County deputies initially responded to the scene, the investigation has since been turned over to state police.

Fairfax

Deadly Crash on I-66: Manassas Man Killed After Pickup Hit, Catches Fire

By Potomac Local News

Published August 4, 2025 at 3:00PM

Photo: VDOT & Virginia Statewide Incidents LLC

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – A Manassas man was killed Saturday evening in a fiery crash on I-66 westbound near the Fairfax County Parkway, and state police are still investigating what led to the collision.

The folks at Virginia State Police just told Potomac Local News that 20-year-old Will R. Hernandez-Villalta died at the scene after his 1996 Nissan pickup, stopped due to a mechanical issue, was rear-ended by a Honda Pilot around 5:51 p.m. on August 2.