Tremayne D. Gross, Elizabeth N. Mathis Obituary, Death: 2 dead in head-on crash on I-495 express lanes in Fairfax County Sunday
Tremayne D. Gross, Elizabeth N. Mathis Obituary, Death – Two people lost their lives in a head-on collision early Sunday morning along the express lanes of Interstate 495 in Fairfax County, according to the Virginia State Police (VSP).
The deadly crash took place at approximately 2:34 a.m. on July 6, in the northbound lanes of the I-495 expressway, close to the 48-mile marker. Authorities say a 2017 Ford Edge was driving in the wrong direction—heading south in the northbound lanes—when it collided head-on with a 2004 Jeep Patriot.
The impact was fatal for both drivers involved. The driver of the Ford Edge was identified as 24-year-old Tremayne D. Gross of Washington, D.C., while the driver of the Jeep Patriot was identified as 32-year-old Elizabeth N. Mathis from Westminster, Maryland. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to state police, both Gross and Mathis were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
No other passengers were reported in either vehicle, and no additional injuries were mentioned.
Investigators have not yet released details about why the Ford Edge was traveling in the wrong direction or whether any contributing factors such as impairment, distraction, or road conditions played a role. The Virginia State Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of wrong-way driving, which often results in high-impact collisions with severe or fatal outcomes. Law enforcement officials are urging motorists to remain alert and cautious, particularly during late-night or early-morning hours when visibility may be limited.
Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation progresses and more facts are gathered. In the meantime, the families and communities of both victims are mourning the loss of two lives cut short in a devastating crash.
