Man Dies After Hitting Officer’s Cruiser

A 40-year-old man died at around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, after driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of Little River Turnpike for several miles and striking a Fairfax County Police cruiser head-on.

The officer, 28, from the Mason Police District, was en route to assist fellow officers after hearing radio traffic about the speeding vehicle in the wrong lanes. He suffered numerous injuries in the crash, was trapped in his vehicle and had to be cut out of the car before he could be transported for medical attention. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he is in a stable condition.

The situation began when officers responded to a domestic call in the 4800 block of Tapestry Drive. An officer approached a man in front of a home; briefly spoke with him, and then the man left. The officer saw the man speed down Roberts Road and make a right turn into oncoming traffic on Little River Turnpike. The suspect continued to drive into oncoming traffic and barely missed striking several vehicles. The officer remained in the eastbound lanes where he radioed information to fellow officers. The crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of Little River Turnpike on the I-495 overpass. The deceased was identified as Cicero I. Limberea, of no fixed address, and was pronounced dead on the scene.

The crash is under investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

John Ponton to Serve as Acting Principal at Robinson

John Ponton will serve as acting principal of Robinson Secondary School from April 1 through June 30, 2013. He is filling in for retiring Principal Dan Meier. Ponton is a retired Fairfax County Public Schools educator who has worked in FCPS 31 years, at Marshall HS, Stuart HS, and Annandale HS. He spent 21 years as a social studies teacher, coach and sponsor of student activities. He spent the last 10 years of his career as an administrator, serving four years as assistant principal at Stuart HS and six years at Annandale HS. Ponton’s wife Sharon is currently a Health & PE teacher at Stuart HS and serves as the head girls’ volleyball coach. They have two sons in college in Virginia.

Check Those Smoke Alarms

This Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, firefighters will canvass homes in selected neighborhoods throughout Fairfax County, checking for working smoke alarms, and provide family fire-escape plans for residents. More than 3,000 people in the U.S. die in home fires each year, and most are in homes without a working smoke alarm. A working, properly installed smoke alarm lowers the chances of this happening.

Time to Spring Forward

It’s only March, but Daylight Saving Time arrives this Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m. So before residents go to bed Saturday night, they’re advised to turn their clocks, watches and other applicable devices ahead one hour.