Dana Hedgpeth

Washington, D.C.

Reporter covering local breaking news

Education: University of Maryland at College Park

Dana Hedgpeth is The Washington Post’s local reporter on early-morning breaking news. From traffic jams to Metro problems, overnight mayhem and other quirky news, she’s the early bird in the newsroom. Dana joined The Post in 1999 and has spent more than a decade covering the D.C. area’s Metrorail and bus systems, local government, courts, and federal and military spending, plus the defense, commercial real estate and manufacturing industries. Dana is an American Indian and a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe in North Carolina.
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Latest from Dana Hedgpeth

Girl dead, father critically injured in shooting in District Heights home

Police said they are investigating the circumstances of the incident, including who was armed.

May 12, 2023

Woman dies after being struck by firetruck in Northern Virginia, police say

Police said the pedestrian was killed in a crash in Reston that involved a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue vehicle.

May 9, 2023

Man found dead in apparent homicide in Maryland apartment after fire

Authorities said a man was found dead inside a Hyattsville apartment after a blaze and that they believe the death was a homicide.

May 4, 2023

Virginia Beach tornado brings end to Something in the Water festival

The tornado damaged more than 100 buildings and forced the cancellation of the third day of Pharrell Williams’s music festival.

May 1, 2023

Beltway in Northern Virginia reopens after serious crash

Virginia State Police said the incident happened around 3:50 a.m. near the Beltway's Van Dorn Street exit.

April 28, 2023

One dead, two hurt in crash on Route 50 in Northern Virginia

Part of Route 50 was temporarily closed after the two-car crash.

April 21, 2023

Virginia expects largest oyster harvest in three decades

After years of careful management of harvests to allow for spawning, Virginia officials expect the largest commercial harvest of oysters in 30 years.

April 21, 2023

Virginia tries to save salamander with lineage dating back to ice age

Their habitats destroyed, the endangered Eastern tiger salamander is found only on private land east of Interstate 95. Experts are working to bring them back.

April 18, 2023

Trains no longer delayed on Metro’s Blue Line after derailment

The incident happened overnight outside the Potomac Yard station and caused delays Tuesday morning.

April 11, 2023

Abducted woman killed after police chase, shootout on I-95, authorities say

The woman was found with a gunshot wound, but it was unclear whose gunfire struck her.

April 6, 2023