Water main break spawns sinkhole in Bethesda

A major water main break turned into a major sinkhole on Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, directly in front of Wood Acres Elementary School, on Tuesday. The sinkhole formed in the 5800 block of Cromwell, between Newington Road and Wiltshire Drive. In addition to causing a prolonged shutdown of the street in that area while a WSSC crew attempted to make repairs, the sinkhole blocked some residents into their driveways. This is, by far, the worst water main damage seen in the Springfield neighborhood in some time. It's fortunate no one was hurt or caught in their vehicle when this collapsed.

Utility work closes part of Cromwell Drive in Bethesda tonight

Update - 11:02 PM: Cromwell Drive has reopened

Cromwell Drive is closed in both directions between Welborn and Devonshire Drives for emergency utility work. It looks like a water main break, one of at least three in the Springfield/Woodacres area in the last week, but is not currently shown on the WSSC outage map.

4-car crash in Bethesda (Photos)

Mercedes Benz (left) and
Ford Mustang (right) were
two of four cars involved
in a rush hour collision
last night

A four car collision tied up traffic last night at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Cromwell Drive. Montgomery County Police and Fire and Rescue services responded to the scene. No information on injuries, or the cause of the crash, have been released so far.

Ambulance leaves the
scene of the
accident

Ride On 23 was stopped for a long time at the scene. It was unclear whether it had been involved in the collision, or was simply not allowed to divert from its route.

Northbound traffic on Massachusetts was forced to detour at Cromwell. That didn't stop one belligerent driver from running over a police flare, crushing it, and entering the southbound lanes of Massachusetts toward oncoming traffic. "No!!" a police officer shouted at the advancing vehicle. Then others began to follow that car, all running over the debris that remained of the flare.

Fire truck and flares -
before someone ran over
one of the flares

Eventually, a wrecker arrived to begin towing the cars away.

Wrecker has one of the
cars on its flatbed

Car stolen in Chevy Chase, assault in Grosvenor + much more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 14, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Burglary. 6600 block Hillandale Road.

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Chevy Chase Boulevard.

Drug arrest. Rockville Pike at South Drive.

Stolen car. 6400 block Ruffin Road.

Vehicle burglary. 6400 block Ruffin Road.

Vehicle burglary. 4700 block De Russey Parkway.

Vehicle burglary. 3700 block Underwood Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Vehicle burglary. 3600 block Underwood Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Theft. 5500 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Cromwell Drive (Springfield).

Burglary. 3200 block Pickwick Lane.

Assault. 10200 block Hatherleigh Drive at 9:02 AM.

Vehicle burglary. Vassar Circle (Glen Echo).

Vehicle burglary. Valerian Court.

Theft. Wilson Lane at MacArthur Boulevard.

Vehicle burglary. 10700 block Gloxinia Drive.

Vehicle burglary. 6000 block Valerian Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Dorchester Way.

Drug arrest. 4900 block St. Elmo Avenue at 12:15 AM.

Robbery in Pike District, assault in downtown Bethesda + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 25, according to crime data:

Disorderly conduct. 7700 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Assault. Old Georgetown Road at Cordell Avenue.

Theft. Wisconsin Avenue at Western Avenue.

Drug arrest. River Road at Goldsboro Road.

Theft. 6100 block Cromwell Drive (Springfield).

Burglary. 5700 block Chapman Mill Drive.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Robbery. 5400 block McGrath Boulevard (Pike District).

17 cars broken into in Bethesda, Chevy Chase Monday; assault on Wisconsin Ave. + more - Crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 13, according to crime data:

Assault. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue at 10:58 AM.

Theft from vehicle. 4400 block East-West Highway.

Theft from vehicle. 4600 block Chestnut Street (Rosedale Park).

Vehicle burglary. 8500 block Lynbrook Drive (Glenbrook Village).

Vehicle burglary. 6800 block Glenbrook Road (Edgemoor).

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block De Russey Parkway (Chevy Chase West).

Vehicle burglary. 4700 block Langdrum Lane (Chevy Chase Gardens).

Vehicle burglary. 4600 block De Russey Parkway (Chevy Chase West).

Vehicle burglary. 5600 block McLean Drive (Whitehall Manor).

Vehicle burglary + liquor offense. Cedar Parkway at W. Kirke Street (Chevy Chase Village).

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Devonshire Drive (Wood Acres).

Vehicle burglary. 6100 block Cromwell Drive (Wood Acres).

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Woodacres Drive (Wood Acres).

Vehicle burglary. 5400 block Blackistone Road (Westmoreland Hills).

Burglary. 10700 block Weymouth Street at 10:22 AM (Garrett Park).

Theft. Lord & Taylor (White Flint Mall).

Theft from vehicle. 11500 block Rockville Pike (Pike District).

Vehicle burglary. 11800 block Nebel Street (Pike District).

Theft from vehicle. 12000 block Rockville Pike (Pike District).

Theft from vehicle. 8500 block River Road.

Arson on Cordell Ave.; Springfield, Wood Acres, Glen Mar Park hit by thieves + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 5, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Arson. 4900 block Cordell Avenue at 12:21 PM.

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Bethesda Avenue.

Drug arrest. Brookville Road at Taylor Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Vehicle burglary. 7200 block Delfield Street (Martin's Additions).

Vehicle burglary. 5400 block Albia Road (Springfield).

Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Cromwell Drive (Springfield).

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Welborn Drive (Wood Acres).

Theft from vehicle. 5300 block Marlyn Drive (Glen Mar Park).

Theft from vehicle. 5200 block Augusta Street (Glen Mar Park).

Theft. 10600 block Old Georgetown Road (near I-270 interchange).

Theft. 11400 block Rockville Pike (Pike District).

Drug arrest. 11500 block Rockville Pike (Pike District).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Sex offense in Grosvenor, auto break-in on Cromwell Dr. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on July 2, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7700 block Meadow Lane (Chevy Chase).

Theft from vehicle. 5400 block Westbard Avenue at 9:23 AM.

Drug arrest. 9000 block Connecticut Avenue (near Beltway interchange).

Theft. 5400 block Grove Street (Chevy Chase Village).

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5500 block Cromwell Drive (Springfield).

Assault. 6400 block Whittier Court.

"Other sexual offense." 5400 block Grosvenor Lane at 2:10 PM.

Drug arrest. Rockville Pike at Strathmore Avenue.

Theft. 4700 block Wilwyn Way (Randolph Hills).

HOUSE FIRE IN BETHESDA

Montgomery County firefighters responded to a house fire in the 5700 block of Cromwell Drive, in the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda early this morning. Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 1:00 AM, after smoke filled the 2-story home near Woodacres Elementary School. According to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, firefighters located and extinguished a small fire in the basement laundry room.

All occupants were safely evacuated before fire personnel arrived on scene, Piringer said. Firefighters had some concern that fire was still burning inside the walls, after hot spots were detected in first floor walls near a fireplace.

Fire officials are investigating to determine the cause.

BETHESDA NEIGHBORHOODS JOLTED BY THEFT SPREE

6 THEFTS THURSDAY

INCLUDED 3 IN

1 BLOCK

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Fast-fingered thieves opened car doors across west Bethesda Thursday, as 5 thefts from vehicles were reported, as well as one other theft.

Particularly hard hit was the 6100 block of Cromwell Drive, where three cars were hit by one or more thieves.

Cars were also entered in the 4800 block of Willett Parkway, and the 6100 block of Ramsgate Road.  The latter street connects to Cromwell, so those thefts are very likely connected.

An additional theft was reported in the 4900 block of Sentinel Drive, a street with several apartment and condominium complexes by the Shops at Sumner Place.

There have been a few scattered thefts in Bannockburn and Glen Echo Heights over the last week or so, but Thursday's spree was a bit more unusual.  I haven't heard of any arrests in these cases, so assume the thieves are still out there, and lock your car doors at all times.

BETHESDA HIT-AND-RUN UPDATE: VICTIM'S FAMILY SPEAKS - EXCLUSIVE!

"WE'RE VERY KEEN

TO CATCH

THE VILLAIN"

POLICE NOW AWARE OF

POTENTIAL SPEED

CAMERA EVIDENCE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The driver who fled the scene of Friday morning's collision with a cyclist on Massachusetts Avenue is still at large.  Meanwhile, the victim's husband is asking the community to help find the culprit who left his wife "bleeding and unconscious in the road."

Tom Skinner has posted a message on a community message group, asking fellow citizens to spread the description of the suspect's minivan among neighbors, and on any local listservs they subscribe to.

That minivan - late model, dark blue, and with passenger-side damage - was last seen speeding towards the District on Massachusetts around 10:30 AM Friday, August 24.

Skinner's account of Jodi Grant's injuries suggests they are more serious than the public was made aware of Friday.   Grant will require several surgeries, and has neck and back fractures.  She is expected to eventually make a full recovery, however.

When I heard about this incident Friday, I immediately thought of the portable speed camera that is located just south of the crash site, near Massachusetts and Cromwell Drive.  If the minivan had been speeding away from the scene, the camera should have a clear photo of the tag.  I contacted the police, and yesterday received word that my tip was passed on to the investigating officers.

Hopefully, the camera got it, but if the minivan had not accelerated to 47 MPH by that point, there won't be a picture.

This is a terrible situation all around.  Accidents can happen to anyone, but to flee the scene with someone in the roadway is unconscionable.

Pass on the minivan description - vague as it is - and let's hope someone happened to witness this, or knows some helpful information to break the case.

If you contact police, the case number is #12041932.

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE SPEED CAMERA MAY HOLD CLUE IN BETHESDA HIT AND RUN

Montgomery County Police are searching for a late-model, dark blue minivan with right side damage, after it struck a bicyclist at Massachusetts Avenue and Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, and fled the scene.

But it's possible police may have a photo of the minivan's tag, if it was speeding when it was last seen heading south towards the District on Massachusetts.

There is a portable speed camera that would have snapped a photo of the minivan, if that was the case.

The accident occurred after 10 AM this morning, and police would like to speak to anyone who witnesses the incident.

Let's hope they check that camera!