While most of us were preparing to watch the Superbowl on Sunday, travelers on I-81 were witnessing an all too familiar scene. Frustrated, angry drivers were once again subjected to standstill traffic in a 5 mile backup as rescuers worked swiftly to save lives and clear the roadway on the Northbound lanes of I-81 on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Marker 138.9 was the scene of a four vehicle tractor trailer-car accident. Investigators believe that the chain reaction accident occurred when a 2020 Freightliner tractor-trailer rear-ended a Subaru Outback, then pushed the Subaru into a 2013 Chevy Traverse, which was then pushed into the rear of a 2020 Peterbilt tractor trailer. Reports say that the two smaller vehicles were smashed between the two larger commercial trucks.
47 year old Kandy Poarch, who was a resident of Emporia, died at the scene. Another victim, a male, was transported by flight to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. At the time of this posting there was no word on his identity or condition.
This is the 2nd fatal accident involving collisions between tractor trailers and passenger vehicles in the last two weeks. The other accident killed two individuals from our community.
We all know that I-81 is deadly. And VDOT knows it too. Tomorrow night, VDOT is hosting a virtual public hearing to discuss the widening of a 5 mile stretch of I-81 between mile markers 136.6 to 141.8. Current VDOT estimates state that 68,000 vehicles, including tractor trailers, use this particular portion of the interstate every day.
VDOT reports that along with the widening, a few bridges will be replaced and modifications to entrance and exit ramps will also be done. Construction on the widening project is expected to begin later this year and conclude by 2026.
The Virtual public hearing will be hosted by VDOT from 5-7pm tomorrow night. I will be attending virtually and will be posting information shared at the hearing on this blog.
While it is encouraging to see that State officials are aware and proactively addressing the dangerous highway in Roanoke County, I know that it is too little too late for all of the families who have lost loved ones to wrongful death in trucking accidents or who have been catastrophically injured in car accidents on I-81.
And 2026 is several years away. Overcrowding of this part of the interstate will only get worse during this time. I know several people who have taken to avoiding I-81 when possible. Unfortunately, it is not always feasible to do so, so when I find myself on busy interstate highways alongside tractor trailers, I use an abundance of caution and use the best defensive driving behaviors I know. Some of the strategies I use when driving around 18 wheelers are below:
- Keep a safe following distance between you and truck. Vehicles on crowded roadways are more likely to stop suddenly. Being behind a high profile vehicle limits your visibility and you may not know that cars ahead of the tractor trailer are slowing down. Keep lots of distance to avoid a rear-end underride accident with a tractor trailer.
- When passing, pass on the left and don’t linger. Blind spots and trucking go hand in hand, so pass on the left where the driver has a better chance of seeing you and go quickly in case he or she doesn’t see you.
- When you have fully passed a big rig, be sure to stay in the left lane until you can see the trucker’s headlights and bumper in your rearview mirror. You shouldn’t “cut off” the trucker by pulling in the right lane close to the front of his truck. Remember, commercial trucks and buses take up to 40% longer to stop than an average-sized car.
- Employ other safe driving strategies such as limiting distractions like eating and phone use, driving when fully awake, wearing seat belts, obeying speed limits and avoiding alcohol, drugs or prescription drugs that impair reaction time when driving.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow night’s virtual meeting with VDOT and hearing a sound discussion from our community leaders on how Roanokers and visitors to our area will be safer in the years to come.
My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Ms. Kandy Poarch during this difficult time.
Paul Thomson is an experienced personal injury attorney in Roanoke, VA. He focuses his practice solely on personal injury and has 34 5 star reviews on Google from his former clients. The Thomson Law Firm represents people who have been injured or who have lost a loved one to wrongful death.
