State Trooper Struck on I-495 During Chase

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A Virginia State Police officer was struck and hospitalized after being hit by a passing driver on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Huntington during a foot pursuit of a suspect. The trooper had attempted to pull over the suspect for an expired temporary registration tag, but the driver fled, leading to a chase that ended with the suspect rear-ending a tractor trailer and then running across the interstate before escaping on the Metro.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers that law enforcement officers face during high-speed chases and traffic stops, as well as the challenges of apprehending suspects who are willing to flee and put others at risk. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of traffic enforcement and the need for improved coordination between state and local police agencies.

The details

According to Virginia State Police, the trooper attempted to pull over the driver of a black Chrysler 300 with an expired temporary registration tag around 9:09 p.m. on Tuesday. The driver refused to stop, leading to a pursuit that continued onto I-495 eastbound. The suspect then rear-ended a tractor trailer, exited the vehicle, and ran across all lanes of the interstate into Alexandria, where he fare-evaded and boarded a Metro train. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Gregory Newton of Springfield, was later apprehended at the L'Enfant Plaza station in D.C. and charged with eluding, hit and run, possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended, and assaulting a police officer.

• The traffic stop was attempted around 9:09 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
• The suspect later boarded a Metro train at the L'Enfant Plaza station in Washington, D.C.

What’s next

The identity of the driver accused of striking the officer has not been released, and it is unclear if that individual will face any charges.