Snowy Conditions Lead to Truck Accidents in Fauquier County | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

On Wednesday, March 6, a wintery storm blew through much of Virginia, leaving between three and 14 inches of snow in its wake. The unseasonable weather brought with it slick roads, poor visibility, and a number of truck accidents. 

On Interstate 66 in Fauquier County, one tractor-trailer accident stalled traffic and caused delays, though no one was injured in the wreck. Virginia State Police say that the big-rig was traveling west near The Plains when the driver lost control of his vehicle on snowy roads. The tractor-trailer jackknifed and struck a guardrail, blocking lanes and closing the highway until after noon. It was one of dozens of accidents reported that day on that stretch of I-66. 

There were more truck accidents along Interstate 66 near Linden Mountain on Wednesday as the late-winter snow accumulated across the state. In one instance, two tractor-trailers lost control on the road and came to a stop horizontally along the travel lanes. This incident caused a backup of hundreds of vehicles as emergency crews worked to remove the big-rigs from the road. 

Trucks are especially dangerous in wintery conditions because of their weight, length, and structure; it takes these big-rigs longer to stop in snow, and it is much harder for them to maneuver in bad weather. In addition, tractor-trailers take so long to slow down or stop on slick roads that they often run into traffic accidents caused by inclement weather, causing chain-reaction crashes that can result in serious injury or death. 

Our Virginia truck crash attorneys wish all those involved in these accidents speedy recoveries—and safe travels to everyone on the road in the late-winter snows.