VSP troopers stay busy overnight responding to crashes

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RICHMOND (WSLS 10) - Crashes and disabled vehicles continue to plague interstates and secondary highways in Virginia Thursday morning.

As of 6:00 a.m. Thursday, Virginia State  Police statewide are on the scene of 33 traffic crashes with 24 of them in Northern Virginia.

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Of the 71 disabled vehicle calls statewide, 70 of them are in Northern Virginia.

Virginia State Police troopers in Northern Virginia worked overnight moving as quickly as they could to investigate and clear crashes and disabled vehicles. Troopers' shifts were extended and troopers called out early in an attempt to keep up with the demand for calls for service. Two troopers in Northern Virginia had two close calls:

  • Trooper investigating a crash on I-495 in Fairfax County was outside his vehicle and struck by a van making a sudden lane change. This was not "weather-related" as the van swerved to avoid a car coming into its lane. The trooper was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
  • Another trooper was investigating a crash on I-95 in Prince William County just after midnight when his vehicle was struck by a passing vehicle that slid out of control. The trooper fortunately was not injured.

From 12:00 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 20) through 12:00 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 21), Virginia State Police responded to 767 traffic crashes statewide and 392 calls for disabled vehicles.

  • On Wednesday, the Fairfax Division responded to 123 traffic crashes and 110 disabled vehicles.
  • On Wednesday, the Salem Division responded to 228 traffic crashes and 41 disabled vehicles.

For comparison:

­From 12:00 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 19) through 12 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 20), Virginia State Police responded to a total of 200 traffic crashes statewide.

The bulk of the crashes began in Southwest Virginia Wednesday morning due to the very first wave of snow coming through. The second wave then impacted Western Virginia along the I-81 corridor by mid-afternoon, and made its way to Northern Virginia by 5:30 p.m.

The cause of the Bedford County traffic fatality is still under investigation…will follow up with more details once they become available.

As motorists head out Thursday and prepare for what's forecasted in the way of snow/sleet/rain for Friday…State Police remind all Virginians to drive safe and drive to save lives…

  • Clear off all snow from your vehicle – windows, roof, trunk and lights
  • Add extra time to reach travel destination
  • Slow speed for road conditions
  • Increase driving distances between vehicles for increased stopping distance
  • Buckle up and don't drive distracted
  • MOVE OVER for all stopped emergency vehicles, highway vehicles and two trucks.

Motorists are also asked NOT to abandon their vehicles in the roadway as this causes even more delays and prevents VDOT trucks and other emergency vehicles from being able to move through the area.

Call 511 for road conditions or click on www.511virginia.org.