Trooper Injured, 2 Arrested After DUI Crash on Beltway in Fairfax County
Fairfax County, VA – A Virginia State Trooper was injured and two individuals were arrested after a suspected DUI crash on the Beltway on Thursday evening. According to Virginia State Police, the incident occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. on the Capital Beltway (I-495) outer loop near Exit 137 (Tysons Corner Center). A 2017 Honda Civic, driven by 29-year-old Anthony Stokes III of Stafford, Virginia, allegedly struck the rear of a Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office cruiser while traveling at a high rate of speed. The trooper, who was conducting a traffic stop, was standing outside the vehicle when the crash occurred. The trooper sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Stokes and his passenger, 26-year-old Cortazia Swinson of Stafford, were both taken into custody. Stokes was charged with DUI, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, and assault on a law enforcement officer. Swinson was charged with DUI. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but police believe alcohol may have been a factor. All lanes of the Beltway outer loop were closed for several hours following the accident. Virginia State Police remind drivers that operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is never acceptable and can have tragic consequences. They urge all motorists to make responsible decisions and to designate a sober driver if they plan on consuming alcohol.Iceland Extends Whaling Permit, Sparking Outcry
Iceland Extends Whaling Permit, Sparking Outcry
Iceland has granted a new permit to its sole remaining whaling company, Hvalur hf, allowing it to continue hunting fin whales during the upcoming season. The decision, announced on Tuesday, has been met with swift condemnation from animal rights activists. The permit allows Hvalur hf to hunt a total of 128 fin whales in various regions of Iceland. This includes 99 whales in the Greenland and West Iceland areas and 29 in the East Iceland and Faroe Islands regions. Iceland’s decision to resume whaling has been a source of controversy for years. Animal rights groups, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), have strongly protested the practice, arguing that it is unnecessary and cruel. “It’s ridiculous that in 2024 we are talking about target lists for the second largest animal in the world, for products that no one needs,” said Patrick Ramage, director of IFAW. The Icelandic government has defended its decision, claiming it is based on a sustainable use of resources. However, the hunting practices have raised concerns, with the Food and Veterinary Authority suspending hunting for two months last year due to excessive killing times. Despite an international moratorium on commercial whaling imposed in 1986, Iceland resumed hunting in 2006, along with Norway and Japan. Norway has continued to engage in commercial whaling since 1993. Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. However, the moratorium does allow indigenous peoples in certain areas, such as Greenland and Alaska, to hunt whales for cultural and nutritional purposes.
Trooper Injured, Two Arrested After DUI Crash on Beltway in Fairfax County
A Virginia State Trooper was injured and two people were arrested after a DUI crash on the Beltway in Fairfax County on Tuesday evening. The crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. on the inner loop of the Beltway near exit 170 for Dulles Airport Access Road. According to police, a wrong-way driver, identified as 38-year-old Michael Dean, was driving a Toyota Corolla when he collided head-on with a Virginia State Police cruiser. The trooper, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Dean and a passenger in his vehicle were also taken to the hospital for treatment. Police said that Dean was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He has been charged with DUI and reckless driving. The passenger in Dean’s vehicle, 32-year-old Ashley Jones, was also arrested for public intoxication. The Beltway was closed for several hours while police investigated the crash. The roadway has since reopened. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
