Deadly I-95 crash shuts road for hours

By Staff Reports

Published: December 2, 2008

One person was killed and seven others were injured in a fiery multi-vehicle crash that prompted Virginia State Police to close a stretch of Interstate 95 in Prince George County for several hours yesterday.

Two people seriously injured were taken by helicopters to VCU Medical Center.

The crash occurred about 10:30 a.m. and forced the closure of the interstate in both directions.

While I-95's southbound lanes were reopened about 2 p.m., northbound I-95 remained closed at mile marker 41, the U.S. 301 interchange, until 5:20 p.m.

Sgt. Tom Cunningham said the crash occurred near mile marker 44 while police were investigating an earlier, single-vehicle wreck in the median that had created backups along the interstate.

Cunningham said a northbound tractor-trailer collided with a vehicle that had slowed for the earlier wreck, starting a six-vehicle, chain-reaction collision.

Three of the vehicles caught fire, and people in all of the vehicles involved -- except the tractor-trailer driver -- were injured, Cunningham said.

One person was declared dead at the scene.

Cunningham identified the two victims flown to VCU Medical Center as Faith Dalton, 26, and Becky Garrett, 49, both of Stony Creek in Sussex County. They were riding in the same vehicle, he said. The identify of the person who died was not released.

No charges were immediately filed, but the investigation continues, Cunningham said. -- Joe Macenka