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Another fatal tractor-trailer crash on Interstate-81 in Virginia

At about 11:30 p.m. Monday night, April 20, 2009, a tractor-trailer carrying hazardous material ran into the median going southbound on Interstate 81 near mile marker 284 (Woodstock, VA).   A fiery explosion occurred when the tractor-trailer then hit another tractor-trailer.  Three people were killed, I-81 was closed for hours, homes in the Woodstock area were evacuated, and schools were closed in Shenandoah County. 

Our highways are crowded and dangerous, and I-81 is notorious for heavy tractor-trailer traffic in Virginia.  When tractor-trailers are involved in collisions, results are often disasterous.  2007 was a very bad year for victims of tractor-trailer accidents, worse than in 2006.  According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, statistics for 2007 crashes involving tractor-trailers are up from 2006:

13 tractor-trailer occupants killed
397 tractor-trailer occupants injured
4,038 tractor-trailer crashes
            67 fatal crashes
            1,777 personal injury crashes
            2,794 property damage crashes
            62 hazardous materials tractor-trailer crashes
76 people were killed in tractor-trailer crashes

There are special rules and regulations that apply to tractor-trailers on the highways in Virginia.  Contact the lawyers at Weiner, Rohrstaff & Spivey if you or a loved one has been involved in a tractor-trailer accident in Virginia.  Call us at 703-273-9500, contact us through our website at www.WRSattorneys.com, or email me directly at srohrstaff@wrsattorneys.com.