ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE
One person is dead and two others have been taken to the hospital after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 Monday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police.
At about 4:25 p.m., police said a 2015 Provost Charter Bus and a 2021 Chrysler Minivan were slowing for traffic in the northbound right lane of I-81, at the 137.4-mile marker.
According to police, the Chrysler was hit by a 2018 Freightliner tractor-trailer from behind, leading the Chrysler to hit the Provost Charter Bus. The tractor-trailer came to a rest at the media.
The driver of the bus was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.
Police identified the driver of the Chrysler as 62-year-old Andy William Himes, of Spring City, PA. Himes was wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene. A female passenger in the Chrysler was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured and was charged with reckless driving, according to police.
The crash remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY
One person is dead and two others have been taken to a hospital after a crash on Interstate 81 on Monday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police.
The crash at mile marker 137.9, in between Salem exits, has closed all northbound traffic and police do not expect the road to be reopened until about 6:45 p.m., at the earliest.
As of 7:19 p.m. northbound traffic is backed up 8 miles, while southbound traffic is seeing 2 miles of congestion.
Northbound traffic is being diverted off the road at Exit 137.