Home Deputies make daring rescue from burning vehicle in I-81 crash, six injuries
State/U.S. News

Deputies make daring rescue from burning vehicle in I-81 crash, six injuries

Crystal Graham
interstate 81 i-81
Photo: © Eli Wilson/Wirestock/stock.adobe.com

A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 resulted in six injuries, including three to law enforcement officers who were treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation.

A daring rescue took place after one of the vehicles caught fire, and two Wythe County deputies rescued the driver, who was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

A Virginia State Police trooper also extricated another driver in the crash.

According to Virginia State Police, the crash occurred at 4:16 a.m. in Wythe County when the driver of a Toyota Corolla went off the left side of the interstate at the 66-mile marker. The driver struck the guardrail, and the vehicle came to rest in the left lane of interstate. The driver then exited the vehicle.

Following the initial crash, two commercial motor vehicles, also heading southbound, attempted to avoid the Corolla and driver.  The two vehicles collided and overturned, causing one to catch fire.

The driver of the Corolla and the other driver in the second crash were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

No names have been released.

The accident remains under investigation.

 

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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is a reporter and ad manager for Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]