‘Extremely alarming’: VSP reports 11 deaths on Virginia roads over July Fourth

Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Matthew Hanley characterized 11 deaths on Virginia roads over July Fourth as “extremely alarming.”

“Sadly, these tragedies are preventable. We urge everyone to avoid distractions, slow down, buckle up and drive sober,” he said.

Nine fatal traffic crashes were recorded in Amelia, Buckingham, Clarke, Fairfax, Henrico, King William, Orange, Prince Edward and Spotsylvania counties.

There were two double fatal crashes: one involving an all-terrain vehicle in Orange County on July 4 and a wrong-way head-on collision in the express lanes of Interstate 495 on July 6.

There was also a pedestrian fatal crash in Buckingham County on July 4.

State Police investigated 879 total traffic crashes statewide and assisted 701 motorists during the Fourth of July counting period. The counting period ran from July 3-6.

Last year, during the five-day statistical counting period, there were 10 traffic fatalities.

2025 Operation CARE statistics

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During the 2025 Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (CARE) for the Fourth of July holiday, troopers cited:

• 2,959 drivers for speeding
• 1,411 drivers for reckless driving
• 73 drivers arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs
• 505 citations for failure to wear a seatbelt
• 135 citations for child restraint violations

Virginia law changed July 1 to require all passengers, no matter where they are seated in a vehicle, to wear a seatbelt.

Operation CARE is a state-sponsored, national program intended to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries due to impaired driving, speeding and failing to wear a seat belt.

Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s literary fund which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.

Related stories: July Fourth on Virginia roads

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• Virginia State Police to increase patrols on highways over Fourth of July weekend
• State Police: Two dead in July Fourth ATV crash in Orange County
• Buckingham woman dead after fatal pedestrian crash on July Fourth
• Fairfax County: Wrong-way driver, leads to head-on collision, killing two on Interstate 495
• Henrico County: Virginia man dead following single-vehicle crash on I-64