FABB extends its sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Richard Albrecht, the bicyclist killed on October 9, 2024, in Chantilly. Sadly, Albrecht is the first bicyclist killed in Fairfax County this year.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), Albrecht was riding his bicycle westbound on Tilton Valley Drive to West Ox Road around 12:15 PM. Police believe he made a left turn onto West Ox Road when a driver traveling southbound struck him in the right lane. Albrecht, 89, was transported to a hospital, where he died from injuries sustained in the crash.
When a bicyclist is killed in this type of crash, they cannot speak as a witness. FABB asks anyone with information about this crash to contact the FCPD Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone by dialing 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477) and online at https://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org/. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to contact you.
Albrecht is the 17th person outside of a car to be killed by a driver in Fairfax County this year. 16 people walking have also been hit and killed by drivers here, including five in September alone. In many cases like this, drivers do not face any charges or are granted plea deals and only pay fines for failure to yield violations.
FABB calls on Fairfax County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to acknowledge that crashes, injuries, and deaths are preventable with safer road design. We call on the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to enforce the Vulnerable Road User Law (§ 46.2-816.1.).
FABB also calls on local state delegates and senators to pass legislation:
- to allow crash reconstruction reports and evidence to be admissible in court
- to make complete crash reports with redacted names and sensitive information available to the public for
- use in driver and rider education
- to abolish Virginia’s unfair contributory negligence law
- and to allow local jurisdictions to install speed cameras anywhere needed.
FABB asks VDOT to fast-track road diets, cut the red tape to allow more pedestrian-activated lights, and design streets that make the safety and comfort of vulnerable road users the highest priority.
Again, our condolences to the Albrecht family and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.
Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling
[email protected]
