Virginia State Police are investigating a tractor-trailer accident that took place in the early hours of Thursday, March 21, on Interstate 95 outside of Richmond. Although no one was seriously injured in the VA truck accident, traffic was backed up on I-95 as the roadway was cleared.
According to local news sources, a 2003 big-rig carrying 73,000 pounds of plastic was traveling south on I-95 near the I-295 exchange when the vehicle veered off of the left side of the road and struck a guardrail. The collision caused the truck to leak diesel fuel onto the roadway and disabled the vehicle.
The driver of the truck, a 37-year-old male, was not injured in the accident and has not yet been charged or cited by police. He was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.
The truck crash took place at 2:45 a.m. in Henrico County. The left lane of I-95, which exits to I-295, was closed for several hours during the Thursday morning rush hour as crews cleaned up the wreckage and as investigators collected evidence. The accident spilled about 30 gallons of fuel that needed to be cleared by a hazmat team.
The cause of the truck accident is unknown at this time, though many late-night and early-morning commercial vehicle crashes involve a fatigued driver, a drowsy driver, or a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel. Other common causes of truck accidents include driver inattention, speeding, reckless driving, inclement weather, and driving under the influence.
For more information on this and other Virginia truck accident issues, call our Virginia Beach personal injury lawyers today: 800.752.0042.