Driver Crushed between Two Tractor-Trailers in I-64 Accident" | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A 43-year-old Richmond VA woman was killed yesterday in a tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 64 in New County, at approximately 9:30 a.m.  

According to law enforcement reports, the accident, which occurred on the east bound lanes near exit 211, involved three passenger vehicles and two tractor-trailers. Traffic on the road had slowed due to a vehicle which had broken down. However, as one of the tractor-trailers involved approached the traffic, the driver slammed into a pickup truck. The impact sent the pickup truck spinning into the right lane, where it hit a van. After hitting the van, the pickup truck went off the shoulder of the road. The van hit the tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer hit a Chevrolet work truck and then slammed into a Pontiac, pushing the car into a second tractor-trailer.

The Pontiac was crushed between the two tractor-trailers, killing the driver instantly. The driver of the work truck was transported to the hospital, however, police say those injuries were non-life threatening.

The accident caused the shutdown of the interstate for almost seven hours. The State Police Motor Carrier Safety Team and Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating the fatal accident. The driver of the tractor trailer has been charged with reckless driving.

Each year, almost 4,000 people are killed in tractor-trailer accidents. Another 104,000 are seriously injured. One of the most common reasons for truck accidents is the pressure many drivers are under to meet almost impossible delivery schedules set by trucking companies. If you have lost a loved one in a trucking accident, contact a dedicated Virginia wrongful death attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the driver and/or trucking company for your pain and loss.