N.C. truck driver charged in Wednesday crash on I-81
Virginia State Police Trooper T.D. Sykes is investigating a seven-vehicle crash in Pulaski County. The crash occurred Wednesday, Dec. 27 at approximately 3:15 p.m. on I-81 at the 94 mile marker.
A tractor-trailer traveling north on I-81 sideswiped a tractor-trailer traveling in the adjacent northbound lane. The impact of that crash caused both tractor-trailers to run off the left side of the interstate and into the median. The first tractor-trailer came to a stop in the median. The second tractor-trailer continued across the southbound lanes of I-81, collided with/caused five passenger vehicles to crash, and then the tractor-trailer went over the guardrail off the right side of the southbound lanes.
The driver of the first tractor-trailer, Miriam U. Campbell, 32, of Gastonia, N.C., was wearing a seat belt and was not injured in the crash. Trooper Sykes charged her with reckless driving.
The driver of the other tractor-trailer – who is from Tennessee – was wearing his seat belt and was not injured in the crash.
A female adult passenger in one of the five passenger vehicles was flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening, injuries. Two other individuals among the five passenger vehicles were treated and released at a nearby hospital for minor injuries. A fourth person was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
December 28, 2017 @ 9:57 pm
Not really nice to hear all this we should be more safe and slow down
December 29, 2017 @ 2:27 am
I hope all are doing well and glad no deaths but drivers like the one in the first semi are making those of us who try to make a good name look bad and the reason they make stiffer rules she needs super heavy fines and complete loss of lic
December 29, 2017 @ 5:35 am
We should all go back to the horse and buggy
December 29, 2017 @ 7:15 am
Some semi drivers still thanks they are driving a car. I see truck drivers are running so close to the vehicle that is infront of them as if they are hitting the other one and then make a sharp change lane. That manover is dangerous to other drivers out on the road.
December 29, 2017 @ 7:40 am
Apparently. You don’t drive pay attention to those who drive pasdanger card and are on there phones. Drive a truck see what we go through
December 29, 2017 @ 8:33 am
I hope everyone will be ok. Yup those elogs are making the roads so much more safer. Not!!!
December 29, 2017 @ 9:58 am
I can’t say what exactly happened there I wasn’t there but if more people would care and be more attentive and responsible both cars and trucks can coincide on the freeways more respect towards trucks should be given as we do spend a lot of time on the roads and provide a service to the people of this country. When a truck puts their signal on cars just keep rushing by as we get closer and closer to the vehicle in front of us until we have to slow down it takes a car a few seconds to get back up to speed as it takes a truck a few minutes if the cars would show a little courtesy and slow down and let the truck over and let them pass the vehicle it would go a lot smoother we can’t whip it in between 2 cars as other cars do we need space the way cars drive today make trucks drive the way they do
December 29, 2017 @ 12:53 pm
I agree with you totally. That’s exactly how the cars do us .
December 29, 2017 @ 12:08 pm
My heart goes out to all those involved in this accident. But as a newly acquired CDL holder I now have a new outlook on driving. Blame can be put on passenger vehicles as well as truck drivers , we all should have more respect for one another out hear on these roads.
January 3, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
To the CDL/truckers posting here. I drove 500+ miles a week on I-81 for 7 years and yes, the cars are MUCH worse at making stupid driver moves than the truckers 95% of the time. At first I too was reluctant to allow semis to merge ahead of me in the left lane for fear of losing a moment of time gained on the highway. After a while I realized I shouldn’t be in such a hurry, plus this only caused further backup behind me (and was not very, nice either). Started letting them in often as I could (which really wasn’t that often, couple times a week maybe?)
Another thing…many of these truckers are local delivery drivers. After years on the same route/same time you start to recognize them and they you. If you’ve been nice to them they remember. Also remember, no doubt, if you haven’t!!
It’s important everyone be alert and courteous on a dangerous/busy Interstate. Espeically at speeds of 70 MPH.
May 16, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
The passengers could’ve easily died in this accident, so lucky nothing serious happened, drive safe folks.