Latest Little Falls Parkway road diet is scene of crash in Bethesda (Photos)

The latest illegal road diet implemented by Montgomery County on Little Falls Parkway was the scene of a car crash last night in Bethesda. Two vehicles somehow wound up in the median of the shrunken roadway. Some of the flex poles that create a visual cacophony that distracts and blocks drivers' views of cyclists and pedestrians were dislodged. The road diet between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road was implemented by the Marxist totalitarian County government, despite opposition by 73% of nearby residents, and of all the neighborhoods that border the impacted stretch of the parkway. So much for "democracy!" Now we see the results. And with the County reducing the road to only one lane in each direction, the accident response and towing operation shut down the parkway in the southbound direction. Let's congratulate our genius County officials for steamrolling over the expressed wishes of their constituents, for destroying a road taxpayers paid for decades ago, and for making us less safe. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Daylight reveals more damage from Bethesda auto accident (Photos)

Broad daylight yesterday revealed the full extent of damage caused by a vehicle that jumped the curb in the 7800 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda late Tuesday night. Several signs, parking meters, and at least one street tree were knocked over or destroyed, as the car traveled a significant distance northbound on the sidewalk. No information about the cause of the accident has been released, which is why I have used the term "vehicle" instead of "driver," as the reason the car left the roadway is not known at this time. However, it is rare that police release a statement about non-fatal accidents, so we may not learn what exactly transpired here. Hopefully, Montgomery County and the Maryland State Highway Administration can recover the costs of this damage for the taxpayer.

Late night auto accident topples signs in Bethesda (Photos)

A vehicle traveling northbound in the 7800 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda overnight left the roadway, striking several objects on the sidewalk. Shortly after midnight, Montgomery County police were at the accident scene, in front of CVS Pharmacy and United Bank. At least two signs had been toppled, and the damaged vehicle was immobile in the right lane. A tow truck was maneuvering to haul the car away. It is not currently known why the vehicle mounted the curb for a substantial distance, if another vehicle might have been involved, or if there were any injuries.

Tow truck backs up to haul the
damaged vehicle away

Car jumps curb in Bethesda Row collision (Photos)

UPDATE - 3:24 PM: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation now also has a crew at the scene to replace the damaged pole and crossing signals. They are coordinating with Pepco.

An SUV left the road in a collision around noon today at the intersection of Bethesda Avenue and Woodmont Avenue in the Bethesda Row area. It crashed into a utility pole, causing damage to Pepco equipment. A bike crossing signal was toppled, and the Bethesda Urban Partnership information kiosk was sent flying, scattering visitor brochures over the sidewalk and Purple Line construction entrance.

Pepco is on-scene to make repairs to their equipment. Airbags deployed on the SUV, but Montgomery County police say there are no injuries to report from the crash at this time. Police advise avoiding the intersection for now, as Bethesda Avenue is closed between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenue for cleanup and accident investigation.

Bike crossing signal toppled

Brochures scattered around the damaged
Bethesda Urban Partnership kiosk

Brick wall destroyed again at 7-Eleven in Bethesda (Photos)

Oh, no, not again! Someone accidentally or intentionally smashed into the brick wall along the property line separating 7-Eleven at 7820 Wisconsin Avenue from the vacant EagleBank property behind it in downtown Bethesda. The same thing happened last May, but the damage from yesterday's crash is even worse than last year's. About half of the wall is completely destroyed, just 13 months after it had been rebuilt. It looks like a guardrail or bollards are needed to prevent this recent surge in poor or malicious driving.

Driver crashes car into Whole Foods in Bethesda (Photos)

A driver accelerated forward over the sidewalk at the Kenwood Station shopping center shortly after noon today, crashing through the front of Whole Foods Market at 5269 River Road, and driving all the way through the produce department. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer said one person was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. A reader who was at the store forwarded these photos. 

Washington Post Saturday newspaper edition delivery stymied by traffic accident

Some Washington Post subscribers in the Washington, D.C. metro area - including parts of Montgomery County - did not receive a newspaper this morning, Saturday, June 3, 2023. According to the Post, a truck carrying a large number of newspapers was involved in a traffic accident early this morning. Subscribers will receive their Saturday edition either later today, or with tomorrow's newspaper, the Post customer service department said.

Tesla driver crashes into sidewalk dining area at Silver Diner in Bethesda (Video + Photos)

A Tesla driver crashed into the outdoor sidewalk dining area outside of Silver Diner at 7150 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda shortly before 6:00 PM tonight. There is no report of injuries to the driver. It did not immediately appear that there were people dining in the impacted portion of the dining area at the time of the crash, and diners further up from the crash in the same patio area are dining as if nothing serious had happened at this time. Personnel from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad are on the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

That's gotta hurt, Gene: Security Public Storage sign damaged in Bethesda (Photos)

The sign out in front of Security Public Storage was apparently struck by a vehicle sometime this weekend. It's leaning like the Tower of Pisa at the self-storage facility at 5223 River Road in Bethesda. Someone has cordoned the area around the sign off with cone-style bollards and caution tape. There's also some damage to one of the lower corners of the sign, the one closest to the street, again suggesting it was struck by a tall vehicle.

Ghost bike placed at site of fatal River Road collision in Bethesda (Photos)

A white ghost bike has been placed at the location of last month's fatal collision at 5244 River Road in Bethesda. The victim, Bethesda resident Sarah Langenkamp, was riding in the unprotected bike lane there when she was struck by the driver of a flatbed truck. Langenkamp was a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. State Department, who had just returned from an assignment in Ukraine in July. A memorial bike safety fund started in her name with a goal of $50,000 has already raised $267,435, as of this morning.

The bike lane (seen at right) does
not have a green paint surface or
physical separation from vehicle lanes 

Bethesda cyclist struck in fatal crash on River Road

A cyclist was struck by a flatbed truck driver in the 5200 block of River Road around 4:00 PM this afternoon. The female victim suffered critical injuries, and was later pronounced dead at the scene, NBC4's Charlie Bragale tweeted. The collision occurred in the vicinity of Beacon Building Products. River Road was closed between Ridgefield Road and Little Falls Parkway for accident reconstruction. The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene, Allison Papson of Fox 5 reports.

Pedestrian struck in downtown Bethesda

A pedestrian was struck on Wisconsin Avenue near Chase Avenue shortly before 7:00 PM tonight. The pedestrian was on the ground, being tended to by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel. It appeared they may have been attempting to cross Wisconsin using the crosswalk with pedestrian signal lights. MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer says the pedestrian has been transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Accident shuts down Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase by Somerset

 

An accident on Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase in front of the Town of Somerset has shut down the road in both directions at this hour. The closure is between Oliver Street and Cumberland Avenue, according to police scanner communications. An officer said they are waiting for a tow truck to arrive, so they can clear and reopen lanes in both directions.

Woodmont Avenue pedestrian refuge hit by vehicle again (Photos)

Once again a driver has had a close encounter with the pedestrian island on Woodmont Avenue by Veterans Park near Fairmont Avenue. This time, the perpetrator left behind a couple of souveniers: A sizable piece of their vehicle, and a dark skid mark, on the island itself. Another wild night in the Woodmont Triangle!

One injured after car jumps curb at Bethesda Row

A driver jumped the curb on Bethesda Avenue near Levain Bakery around 4:00 PM yesterday, striking a pedestrian who was pinned under the car. The victim suffered Priority-2 trauma injuries, which are serious but not considered life-threatening, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer. Bethesda Avenue was temporarily closed for rescue activity and investigation. No update on the victim's condition, the cause of the accident, nor any potential charges for the driver have been announced as of this time.

Collision involving Ride On bus in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

A Montgomery County Ride On bus was involved in a collision at the intersection of Battery Lane and Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda around 7:00 PM tonight. Damage to the bike rack and front of the bus is visible. Over an hour later, some lanes are closed in that area, as investigation and cleanup continue. There is no word on the cause or injuries as of this writing.