Police ask for public’s help with fatal accident at Opitz & Telegraph

Fatal Crash Investigation – On Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 1:16PM, investigators with Prince William County Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit responded to the area of Opitz Blvd and Telegraph Rd in Woodridge (22192) to investigate a crash. The investigation revealed the driver of a 2006 GMC Savanna was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Opitz Blvd when the vehicle collided with a 2008 Ford E350 that was stopped in a lane of travel at the above intersection for a red traffic signal. The force of the collision pushed the Ford E350 into a third vehicle, a 2012 Toyota Sienna, that was also stopped at the traffic light.
The driver of the GMC Savanna was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and was flown to an area hospital with serious injuries. He is expected to survive. A passenger in the GMC Savanna was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the Ford E350 and Toyota Sienna were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit are asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash to contact police. Speed does appear to be a factor in the collision. Charges are pending. The investigation continues.
          Identified:
The deceased passenger in the 2006 GMC Savanna was identified as Mitchell SCHAFFER, 62, of Woodbridge
The driver of the 2006 GMC Savanna was identified as a 58-year-old man of Woodbridge
The driver of the 2008 Ford E350 was identified as 36-year-old man of Stafford
The driver of the 2012 Toyota Sienna was identified as 41-year-old woman of Fairfax Station

Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact Prince William County Police Department tipline at 703.792.7000 or submit a webtip to: pwcva.gov/policetip.