Deputies reconstruct the Dec. 1 collision as residents and riders push for lighting and marked crossings.
ASHBURN, Va. — Loudoun County deputies are reconstructing how a county transit bus struck and killed 34-year-old Alyssa Kakol around 6:24 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 1, along Croson Lane just northeast of Moorefield Blvd., a short walk from the Ashburn Metrorail station.
The Sheriff’s Office has not announced charges and says the investigation is active. The Virginia Department of Transportation, which maintains the road, plans to assess the site after deputies complete their work. The fatal crash has renewed scrutiny of the fast-developing streets around the Ashburn Metro, where apartments, bus bays and wide roads meet. Riders and neighbors say the area can be confusing and dark at dusk, with limited markings showing where to cross.
Deputies responded within minutes of the 6:24 p.m. call on Dec. 1 and closed portions of Croson Lane near the Moorefield Blvd. intersection. Investigators returned the next day to document measurements and look for surveillance video. People at nearby bus stops described sirens and emergency lights cutting through the evening dark. “It’s very heartbreaking,” said Jonvieve Nguyen, who arrived as first responders were at the scene. Others described near misses at the two-way stop that controls the intersection, which sits by transit stops used by commuters headed to and from the Silver Line.
Authorities identified the victim as Kakol, of Purcellville. Family members said she had just finished work and was on a routine walk. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A VDOT spokesperson said the agency typically conducts a post-crash assessment after law enforcement findings are in hand and will look at whether additional safety measures should be implemented. Riders interviewed in the days after the crash cited the lack of traffic lights and dedicated crosswalks and urged steps to slow vehicles and illuminate the corridor during peak evening hours.
Kakol taught at The Gardner School of Herndon, which said it is supporting staff and families after her death. Her sisters, Sara Shoulars and Ann Gould, and relative Laura Vukson remembered a “heart of gold” who jumped in to help in classrooms and at home. They started a petition pressing for street lights, flashing crosswalk beacons and a four-way stop at Croson and Moorefield. “It seems reasonable and logical to install lighting and crosswalks so people can get to and from these services,” Vukson said. Gould added, “People’s lives, definitely our sister’s life, you can’t put a price tag on that.”
The corridor illustrates a common suburban challenge: busy arterial lanes connected to new transit hubs. Since the Silver Line opened, Ashburn has drawn more riders, walkers and delivery traffic. Transportation engineers typically evaluate sight lines, approach speeds, nighttime visibility and pedestrian “desire paths” to determine where crosswalks and signals should go. Interim steps can include all-way stop control, temporary lighting or portable beacons while permanent designs—signals, raised crossings or protected intersections—move through funding and permits. Residents say winter’s early sunsets magnify the risks.
Next steps hinge on the crash reconstruction report from the Sheriff’s Office. VDOT’s review would follow, with potential recommendations to county leaders for temporary or permanent changes. Any design proposal would go through traffic engineering and budgeting, then a public briefing before installation. As of Tuesday, no timeline had been announced and officials had not detailed whether bus operations near the stop will be adjusted. Deputies asked anyone with video or information to contact the agency, noting that witness accounts remain important to fill gaps where cameras are scarce.
At the corner, neighbors left flowers. A longtime resident, Barbara Kopecky, said she walks in the area and worries about the dark stretch. “You have to be very cautious when walking,” she said, adding that lighting and clearer crossings would help everyone understand who has the right of way. A daily commuter, Jeffery Moore, said “there definitely could be more safety and a better presence, in terms of crosswalks.” Another rider, Rhythm Nagda, said he waits for traffic to fully clear on dark evenings rather than risk crossing unmarked lanes.
Deputies said Tuesday the investigation remains open and no charges have been filed. A public update is expected after reconstruction is complete, with any VDOT recommendations to follow. The memorial on Croson Lane continued to grow in the meantime, marking the spot where the timeline of events is still being pieced together.
Author note: Last updated December 9, 2025.