The driver, who ran over a red traffic light and met the father when turning left on a green arrow, was not found, the police said.
WASHINGTON – A Fairfax County family has requested that someone come forward with information after a loved one was killed in a hit-and-run accident nearly a week ago.
Fairfax County Police say 37-year-old Andrew Willingham died after being pulled over at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of Fairfax County Parkway and North Walnut Branch Road in Reston.
Andrew Willingham was turning left on a green arrow when another driver ran over a red light and hit him, police said. Flowers and parts of the accident vehicle were left near the intersection.
Andrew Willingham’s family said he was only 30 seconds from home when he was hit. The incident was so close to her home that his wife, Jeanne Willingham, saw the police lights.
According to the police, the driver fled the scene and was not caught. Witnesses describe him as a Hispanic man, between 5’6 and 6’0, stocky and wearing a black short-sleeved shirt over a white undershirt. He has also been described as having a beard and shaggy hair.
Detectives believe speed may have been a factor in the accident and are continuing to investigate whether alcohol was also a factor in the driver of the SUV who crashed into Andrew Williams’ car; Police said speed and alcohol don’t seem to be factors for Andrew.
Detectives investigate fatal hit-and-run crash in Reston https://t.co/AzK1ylBoRa pic.twitter.com/hSLUNxfvsK
– Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 3, 2021
“I just screamed and my body gave way,” said Andrew Willingham’s sister Erin Meleney of the moment she learned that her brother had died. “The vision of two police officers and a doctor pulling us into this small room will never get out of my mind.”
Meleney described her older brother as a carefree, hands-on, devoted father to his four-year-old son Benjamin and two-year-old son Rex, who always made sure people were happy.
“He’s always looked after me like that and always taken care of me and always wanted to know that I and his sister are fine,” added mom Cindy Willingham.
Andrew Willingham was the family’s sole provider. Loved ones created a GoFundMe page to support his wife and children. The site also paid tribute to good Samaritans who tried to help.
“The people who rushed to the accident and were by Andrew’s side – we are forever grateful,” it said on the page. “You made sure that he wasn’t alone, you constantly cheered him on with words of encouragement and exhausted all measures.
The family asks the driver to report.
“Help us close our Andrew and please do the right thing,” said Cindy Willingham.
If you have any information or witnessed this crash, please contact the Fairfax Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543. Tips can also be obtained anonymously via Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – enter “FCCS” plus tip to 847411 and online here.
Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards ranging from $ 100 to $ 1000 if their information results in an arrest. Please leave contact information if you would like a detective to contact you.
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