ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE
Authorities have identified a Texas man as the driver who died in a deadly eight-vehicle pileup that closed I-81 South in Rockbridge County for around 10 hours Wednesday.
Consorcio Velasco-Nolasco, 63, of Alvarado, Texas, was driving a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer and died at the scene, according to State Police.
Authorities said the accident started when a 2015 Honda Civicmade an unsafe lane change into the right lane at a low speed and without lights. The Civic was then hit by a tractor-trailer that jack-knifed and was hit by several cars and tractor-trailers. In total, police said four tractor-trailers and four cars were involved in the accident. The crash happened at 6:11 a.m. at mile marker 198.
Velasco-Nolasco’s tractor-trailer hit the jackknifed tractor-trailer and was then hit by at least one car and another tractor-trailer, according to State Police.
At this time, State Police said they do not have the total number of injuries but that there was at least one injury from each of the eight cars involved in the wreck.
Diesel fuel was spilled for at least two-tenths of a mile and two tractor-trailers lost their loads as a result of the crash, authorities said.
The interstate was reopened around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
According to State Police, the crash remains under investigation.
UPDATE
Both southbound lanes on I-81 in Rockbridge County have reopened after an eight-vehicle crash left one dead.
UPDATE
One person is dead after an eight-vehicle crash closed I-81 South in Rockbridge County, according to Virginia State Police.
The accident happened near mile marker 198 around 6:15 a.m. Wednesday and involved four passenger vehicles and four tractor-trailers.
Authorities said several people were hospitalized as a result of the crash.
Crews are working to clear the crash and VDOT is setting a detour on the southbound side at exit 200. Traffic will be moved off the interstate to use Route 11 South and then re-enter I-81 at the 195 entrance.
As of 9:30 a.m., traffic is backed up for about 7.5 miles.
Stick with 10 News as this breaking news story develops.
UPDATE
Authorities said five people have been hospitalized and one person is still trapped after a crash involving seven vehicles on I-81 South in Rockbridge County.
Four tractor-trailers and three passenger vehicles were involved, according to Kevin Moore, fire-rescue deputy chief for Rockbridge County.
One person is still trapped inside one of the tractor-trailers, Moore said.
As of 8:05 a.m., all southbound lanes remain closed at mile marker 198. Traffic is currently backed up for about three miles.
Authorities said there is no ETA for when the interstate will be reopened and no word on the severity of injuries.
Stick with 10 News as this breaking news story develops.
ORIGINAL STORY
All I-81 South lanes in Rockbridge County are closed due to a tractor-trailer crash, according to VDOT.
Authorities said the accident happened near mile marker 198 and involved two vehicles, with one of them flipped on its side.
Virginia State Police said they received a call for the crash around 6:15 a.m.
Stick with 10 News for more information as this breaking news story develops.