A 39-year-old woman from Northern Virginia lost her life early Saturday morning after her SUV veered off Lee Highway and slammed into a tree in Gainesville. The driver, identified as Assiatou Barry, was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving investigators working to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
The accident happened around 12:23 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, near the intersection of Lee Highway and Pageland Lane in Prince William County, according to police.
Barry, who lived in the Aldie area of Virginia, was behind the wheel of a 2023 Hyundai Tucson traveling northbound on Lee Highway when the crash occurred.
Police said the SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed when it suddenly veered off the roadway and struck a tree. The impact proved fatal, and Barry was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released further details about what may have caused the vehicle to leave the road. It also remains unclear whether any other factors contributed to the crash.
The fatal wreck happened in Gainesville, a community in Prince William County in Northern Virginia. The area is part of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region.
Prince William County police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information that could help investigators to come forward. Even details from someone who happened to be driving through the area around the time of the accident could prove useful.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Prince William County Police Department at 703-792-6500. Investigators continue to look into the circumstances surrounding Barry’s death.