Galax man dies in four-vehicle crash on I-77

Virginia State Police Trooper T. Branch is investigating a four-vehicle, fatal crash in Carroll County. The crash occurred Oct. 18, 2019 at 11:01 a.m. on Interstate 77 at the 3 mile marker.

Southbound traffic on Interstate 77 had slowed to a stop when a tractor-trailer was unable to slow in time. It changed lanes in an attempt to avoid the stopped traffic ahead and struck a 2006 Lincoln Mark LT and a 2007 Pontiac G5. The impact of that crash caused all three vehicles to run off the right side of the southbound lanes and strike the guardrail in separate places. Then the Pontiac re-entered the southbound lanes and rear-ended a second tractor-trailer already stopped in the traffic.

The driver of the first tractor-trailer, Silvester G. Gadson, 48, of Charlotte, N.C., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the Lincoln, Gregory S. Butcher, 50, of Mount Airy, N.C., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the Pontiac, Robert D. Weatherman, 74, of Galax, Va., died at the scene. Weatherman was not wearing a seat belt. His passenger, a 46-year-old female, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. She was wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the second tractor-trailer, Donald K. Black, 55, of Mineral Bluff, Ga., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing a seat belt.

Gadson was charged with reckless driving. The crash remains under investigation.