Fairfax County police are searching for the driver of a stolen vehicle who hit and killed a pedestrian before crashing into a dumpster in the Hybla Valley area.
Police have identified the victim as 63-year-old James Johnson, of Hybla Valley.
Fairfax County police are still searching for the driver who hit him.
Johnson died at a hospital after being hit by a black 2015 Hyundai Sonata that was stolen from the 7900 block of Sausalito Place. Police say they believe the car was stolen overnight Saturday using a method that's been shown on social media about how to steal Hyundais and Kias.
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Officers were out looking for the stolen car just after midnight Sunday when one saw it on Buckman Road. The driver sped away, and officers didn't pursue the car then. But about 15 minutes later, another officer saw the stolen car speeding on Janna Lee Avenue toward a dead end.
"An officer saw the vehicle traveling by on Janna Lee at a very high rate of speed," said Fairfax County Police Lt. James Curry. "There was no pursuit involved in this vehicle. The car took off when he saw all our cops."
The driver sideswiped another vehicle near Tamarind Street, police said.
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Officers followed and found the stolen Hyundai had crashed into a dumpster at an apartment complex on Janna Lee Avenue. The driver was already gone. Witnesses told police they saw the driver run away between a couple of buildings.
Nigel Williams, a resident of the complex, said he heard a huge crash.
"I heard a big crashing of a trash can, like the trash man was coming to pick up trash cans, but I looked at my clock and it was midnight," he said. "So when I looked outside to investigate, I saw all the police officers and an ambulance."
As police pulled up on the scene, they found a pedestrian lying in the grass and realized he had been struck. They immediately stared CPR on him, but Johnson died at a hospital.
"It's sad, man," Williams said. "I asked the maintenance guy who was cleaning up the mess, I said, 'Did somebody die?' And he's like, 'Yeah.'"
The dented, warped dumpster shows the impact of that final crash. On the other side of the dumpster, the stolen Hyundai was crumpled but empty.
Officers haven't been able to find the driver. Police are asking anyone who lives in the area to check security cameras for video.
"We have two investigations working side by side," Curry said. "We have the crash investigation and we have our investigation into the stolen vehicle."
Johnson was a lifelong Fairfax County resident known for helping neighbors with painting and other jobs.
“I was devastated, because my brother and my family is everything, you know,” said the victim’s sister Sharon Gbenoba. “To lose him is just senseless like this, it’s just so hurtful.”
“My dad was a good man; my dad was well known in the community,” his son Jermaine Robinson said. “And everyone sees and says I was him. I look just like him. So, I just want justice. That’s it.”
Police ask residents in the area to check security cameras for video. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 703-280-0543. Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit a tip through Crime Solvers by calling 866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477).
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