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Three Injured In Morning Crash
One person was critically injured and two others suffered minor injuries in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 81 between the Timber Ridge and Fairfield exits last Wednesday morning.
The wreck closed down the northbound lanes of the interstate and produced a massive backup on U.S. 11 for hours and affected other local roads as well.
The accident, which occurred at 6:49 a.m. at mile marker 197, involved a tractor- trailer and two pickup trucks pulling campers that were parked on the shoulder.
A FIREFIGHTER makes sure any remaining hot spots are taken care of after the cab of the tractor-trailer caught fire during last Wednesday morning’s accident. The trailer and its load can be seen behind the firefighter. (photo courtesy of the Rockbridge Baths Volunteer Fire Department)
According to Kevin Moore, Rockbridge County Fire and Rescue deputy chief, the two pickup trucks had pulled onto the shoulder of the interstate after a possible mechanical issue arose with one of the vehicles.
The Virginia State Police reported that the two trucks were a 2024 Ford F250 and a 2020 GMC 2500, and both drivers were outside of their vehicles when a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer ran off on the right side of Interstate 81, striking the F250 and its camper. The F250 then struck the camper of the GMC 2500 parked ahead of it.
The tractor-trailer driver reported that he was having visibility issues because of the angle of the sun at that time of the morning, said Moore.
Moore said the cab of the tractor-trailer caught fire and the fire was extinguished by firefighters.
The driver of the GMC 2500 pickup, Eduardo Ozuna, 32, of Penitas, Texas, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was airlifted to a Roanoke hospital from a landing zone set up on the interstate.
The driver of the F250 pickup, Javier Garcia, 40, of Palmview, Texas, suffered minor injuries. A passenger in the F250, Gisela Garcia, 35, suffered minor injuries as well. They were transported to Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital.
The driver of the Freightliner, John W. Ritchards, 30, of Mustang, Okla., was not injured. He was cited for failure to maintain control.
Both northbound lanes of the interstate were closed between Timber Ridge and Fairfield and traffic was detoured onto U.S. 11 for two hours. Then one lane was reopened while cleanup operations continued for several more hours. Virginia Department of Transportation workers set up the detours.
Traffic on U.S. 11 eventually backed up from Fairfield nearly to the Timber Ridge exit, and a number of vehicles took alternate routes throughout northern Rockbridge County. The Rockbridge Baths Volunteer Fire Department noted that the incident even caused some traffic issues in its area when two separate trucks were unable to make the turn from Turkey Hill Road onto Va. 39. Firefighters assisted in getting them going again.
Responding to the I-81 accident were the South River and Rockbridge Baths volunteer fire departments, Lexington Fire and Rescue, the Fairfield Rescue Squad and Rockbridge County Fire and Rescue.
The crash remains under investigation by the Virginia State Police.
THE FIRST of two heavily damaged campers can be seen in the foreground of this photo taken by a member of the Rockbridge Baths Volunteer Fire Department.
A HELICOPTER takes off from a landing zone set up by first responders on Interstate 81 following last Wednesday morning’s accident. (photo courtesy of Rockbridge Baths Volunteer Fire Department)
