Local high school student Sydney Aichs died Friday morning when a tractor-trailor ran a red light and slammed into her car at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Ashwood Boulevard. Ms. Aichs was turning left out of the Forest Lakes subdivision onto U.S. 29 southbound, while the tractor-trailor was proceeding northward on U.S. 29. A sharp hill lies just south of the intersection. After cresting that hill, the tractor-trailer failed to stop before striking Ms. Aichs' car.

A proposal to eliminate the hill and widen the intersection was approved several months ago by the Virginia Department of Transportation, but implementation has been delayed indefinitely due to lack of sufficient funding. Virginia Democratic Governor Tim Kaine proposed last week a significant increase in state transportation funding, but the proposal encountered strong opposition from tax-averse Republican leaders in the House of Delegates.

Ms. Aichs was unavailable for comment on the Governor's proposal.