A fiery multi-vehicle crash in Caroline shut down portions of I-95 all day on Thursday, caused major congestion in the Fredericksburg region, and required emergency road repairs.
The crash occurred before 6:30 a.m. on I-95 South at the 108 mile marker. A FedEx tractor-trailer was merging onto I-95 from the rest area and collided with a tractor-trailer hauling trash, Virginia State Police reported. That truck crash created a chain reaction crash involving three other vehicles, and a fire erupted from the impact at the scene, VSP added.
Initially, VDOT announced all northbound lanes and two southbound lanes at the 108 mile marker were closed. Drivers on both sides of the interstate were advised to take alternate routes.
As the 8 o’clock hour approached, VDOT announced that the right lane on each side was moving, but given the 5-mile backup, drivers were still urged to avoid the area.
Around 8:30 a.m. all of the northbound lanes were reopened but the southbound side was shut down completely and traffic was detoured.
An hour later, VDOT reported there was heavy smoke at that scene, and shortly after 10 a.m. the department revealed the fire at crash site had reignited.
Around 3 p.m. VDOT announced the trucks had finally been removed from highway. All lanes were still blocked due to cleanup, which had been underway for hours already. And VDOT said they couldn’t provide any reopening time for I-95 South because the pavement was so severely damaged by the crash and fire that emergency repairs were required.
At that point, VDOT said the southbound backup stretched for 14 miles.
Meanwhile, the ripple effects of the I-95 South shutdown created major congestion on Route 1, Route 3 and other arterial routes. VDOT had to adjust timing on traffic lights Route 1 in Caroline and Spotsylvania. And the I-95 Southbound Rest Area in Ladysmith, located at mile marker 107, was shut down to create an emergency work zone.
Over 150 feet of roadway in the left and center southbound travel lanes of I-95 South was severely damage. The emergency repair involved milling, paving, then striping that area. VDOT inspectors also had to be deployed to scene to give the okay that the travel lanes were safe to reopen.
It wasn’t until about 10:20 p.m. that I-95 south in that area was reopened.
According to VSP, there was only one minor injury from the 5-vehicle wreck, the driver of a pickup.
As of this afternoon, the pickup driver was charged for driving without a license. The Fed Ex driver has been charged with unsafe lane change, said VSP Sgt. Jessica Shehan.
SEE PHOTOS: Fiery Tractor-Trailer Crash in Newport News
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