Two people have died after a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 81 in Frederick County, Virginia, ended in a fireball when a truck carrying oxygen tanks exploded, according to Virginia State Police. The collision, which happened during Thursday evening traffic near Exit 310, sent thick black smoke over the highway and forced an extended closure of the northbound carriageway.
Interstate 81 Crash: What Happened On I-81 Thursday Night?
According to a preliminary investigation by Virginia State Police, the crash began at approximately 8.17 pm when a passenger car attempting to enter I-81 southbound from an on-ramp failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
The car was struck by a tractor-trailer travelling southbound on the interstate, sending the larger vehicle out of control. The tractor-trailer then veered off the road to the left, crossed the median, and struck a truck travelling northbound that was carrying oxygen tanks.
Interstate 81 Crash: How Did The Crash Trigger An Explosion?
The collision between the tractor-trailer and the oxygen tank truck ignited a fire, which in turn caused the tanks aboard the northbound vehicle to explode. Footage captured by bystanders and shared with local broadcasters showed intense flames and a large plume of black smoke rising over the interstate.
The force of the blast was strong enough to damage a Frederick County Sheriff’s Office vehicle, along with several other vehicles parked in a lot east of the interstate at the time.
Interstate 81 Crash: Who Were The Victims?
The driver of the tractor-trailer died at the scene, Virginia State Police said. The driver of the truck carrying the oxygen tanks suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died. Neither driver has been publicly identified. The sheriff’s deputy whose parked vehicle was damaged in the explosion was not injured.
Interstate 81 Crash: What Happened To The Driver Who Failed To Yield?
The driver of the passenger car that failed to yield while merging onto the interstate was not injured in the crash. Virginia State Police said charges are pending against that driver, though authorities have not yet specified what those charges will involve. The investigation into the full circumstances of the crash remains ongoing.
Interstate 81 Crash: How Long Was The Interstate Closed?
The crash prompted an extended closure of I-81 northbound between mile markers 307 and 310, spanning the stretch from Stephens City to Tasker Road at Route 37, according to Frederick County Fire and Rescue.
All traffic was detoured off the interstate at the Stephens City exit while crews worked to bring the scene under control, with the closure lasting for an undetermined period as fire crews extinguished the blaze and investigators processed the scene.
Nearby local roads, including Valley Pike, Front Royal Pike and Tasker Road, saw significantly increased traffic as drivers sought alternative routes around the closure. Frederick County Fire and Rescue and Winchester Fire and Rescue were among the agencies that responded to bring the hazardous scene under control.
