Fairfax County: Search ongoing for man who fled crash, entered drainage area to escape

Updated, 10:02 p.m.

Virginia State Police have provided additional details on the manhunt for a suspect who fled an accident scene, crashed again, and then took off on foot crawling through a narrow drainpipe before escaping later through a manhole.

The driver, a Hispanic male, now identified as Victor A. Caneza, 38, initially stopped and moved to the left shoulder of the road after the third accident on Interstate 495 in Fairfax County. However, the suspect then drove off at a high rate of speed, and a pursuit was initiated.

Less than a mile down the interstate, as previously reported, the suspect vehicle was involved in another crash.

The suspect driver fled his vehicle and ran across the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 495, according to police.  The suspect then entered a wooded area, and a drainage area underneath the interstate, bringing him back to the eastbound side.

The suspect was seen crawling through a smaller drainpipe and refused State Police commands in both English and Spanish to stop. The pipe narrowed to 18 inches making the continued pursuit difficult.

Troopers were stationed at nearby drain covers to cover possible exits, and a Fairfax County Police drone was utilized in the drainpipe but was ineffective due to signal interference.

After three hours, troopers discovered a drainpipe opening nearly three blocks from the entry point, and a local resident reported seeing an individual exit the manhole 30 minutes earlier.

Troopers are obtaining warrants for felony hit and run and felony eluding.

The search continues for Caneza, according to VSP.

Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at (804) 750-8798 or [email protected].

 

Original story, posted 5:59 p.m.

A search is under way for a suspect in a crash this afternoon on Interstate 495 in Fairfax County.

Virginia State Police troopers report that a driver involved in a crash fled the scene and was involved in another crash less than a mile down the interstate.

The suspect vehicle came to a rest in a ditch, and the driver ran across all eastbound and westbound lanes of the interstate. The suspect entered a drainage area underneath the interstate bringing him back to the eastbound side, and then entered a second, smaller drainage area to escape, according to VSP.

A search by troopers and rescue personnel for the suspect remains ongoing. The suspect’s name has not been released.

The incident happened at 2:35 p.m. this afternoon as troopers worked two crashes along I-495 eastbound in the area of Eisenhower Avenue. The suspect was involved in a third crash that occurred behind the initial two and fled as troopers were processing the accident scene.