Driver charged with careless driving in fatal Manassas pedestrian crash

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MANASSAS, Va. — A 68-year-old Manassas man has been charged with careless driving in connection with a fatal collision that killed a 90-year-old pedestrian on Lake Jackson Drive earlier this week, according to local authorities.

Russell Anthony Carolla, the driver of a 2021 Mercedes Benz Sprinter van, was issued a court summons on November 6 following an investigation into the November 4 crash, which occurred around 4:18 p.m. in the 10100 block of Lake Jackson Drive. Investigators determined that Carolla was distracted while driving, contributing to the collision that fatally injured Gary Paul Wilson, 90, who was walking on the shoulder of the roadway where no sidewalk is present.

Wilson was transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that evening. The driver, Carolla, remained at the scene and was uninjured. Authorities confirmed that speed was not a factor in the incident.

Carolla, who resides on Lake Jackson Drive, has been charged with careless driving and is scheduled to appear in court on November 21. He was released on a court summons.

The tragic accident has prompted renewed concerns about pedestrian safety along Lake Jackson Drive, particularly in areas lacking sidewalks. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision is now complete.