A Roanoke man died following a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 81 just south of Fairfield Thursday afternoon, the first of two accidents that happened that afternoon.
The fatal crash occurred at 3:38 p.m. on southbound Interstate 81 at the 199.6 mile-marker in Rockbridge County.
According to the Virginia State Police, a 1995 Ford Super Wagon was traveling south when a 2004 Freightliner tractor trailer merged into the Ford’s travel lane. The Ford took evasive action and swerved to avoid the collision, lost control and crashed into the median, rolling over several times.
Domingo Sanchez-Lopez, 23, of Roanoke was a passenger in the Ford and was ejected from the vehicle. Mr. Lopez was not wearing his seatbelt and was transported to Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital where he later died. The driver of the Ford and two other passengers were also injured and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Responding units included South River Fire Department, Fairfield Rescue Squad, Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue, Lexington Fire Department, Buena Vista Rescue Squad, Kerrs Creek EMS, and Carilion Life-Guard.
Then at approximately 6 p.m., crews were dispatched to I-81 southbound at mile marker 204 just south of Raphine for a motor vehicle crash involving a passenger vehicle that struck the rear of a tractor-trailer, resulting in entrapment, according to Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue Chief Nathan Ramsey.
Responding units included Raphine Fire Company, Fairfield Rescue Squad, and Rockbridge County Fire-Rescue. Lee Hi Towing and Recovery assisted by lifting the trailer off the passenger vehicle. The truck driver was transported via ground to the emergency department, while the passenger vehicle driver was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Virginia State Police, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia Department of Transportation were on scene at both incidents. Southbound I-81 was shut down during both responses.
