Today was a tough day for the Virginia State Police and other Roanoke first responders. At approximately 11:15 a two-vehicle crash occured on I-81 near the Lakeside Exit at MM 139. When rescue personnel arrived at the scene, it was reported that one vehicle had flipped over on the highway and that another was upside down in the woods near the Interstate. Two people died as a result of the crash and two others were flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life threatening injuries.
Both southbound lanes of I-81 were closed from the time of the crash until 5:00pm this evening. Traffic was backed-up for as much as 10 miles at times during the day on this overcrowded stretch of road.
As Spring and Summer draw near, we expect to see increased travel on Interstate 81.
Common Causes of Highway Accidents are as Follows:
- Drowsy Drivers– Many of the vehicles on the Interstate are on long-distance journeys. Too many miles and too many hours in the car can cause drowsiness even amoung the most seasoned drivers.
- Abrupt Lane Changes– A vast majority of Virginians support the Left Lane Laggard Law that went into effect July 2017. A great many support the law because they believe slow drivers in the left lane are an annoyance. But in our great Commonwealth, our elected officials don’t pass laws simply to stop annoying behavior, much to our dismay. Actually this law was passed based on research that shows that driving slowly in the left lane has caused highway fatalities and severe injuries by forcing others to coninually change speeds and pass on the right side. Driving too slow in the left lane makes highways dangerous for everyone.
- Weather Conditions– Southwest Virginia has had 3 consecutive days of rain. Although the Virginia State Police have not released the results of their investigation, wet road conditions may have played a part in today’s deadly accident. Remember to continually evaluate road conditions, use headlights when it is raining and slow down to avoid hydroplaning.
- Excessive Speed– Don’t confuse an overly traveled double lane Virginia Highway for a scene from “The Italian Job”. After viewing pictures from today’s accident, they clearly showed that both vehicles were airborn at some point, I’m willing to bet the Virginia State Police will include speed as a factor of the crash that cut two lives short today.
The Virginia State Police have not released names of the victims injured or killed in today’s crash. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s families and the injured people dealing with the effects of this tragedy tonight.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to someone else’s negligence, call The Thomson Law Firm today for a FREE consultation. (540) 777-4900. An intake specialist is on hand to to talk to you and answer your questions. To contact us, click here.
