Home Update: Early-morning Interstate 81 crash in Montgomery County kills four people
Virginia

Update: Early-morning Interstate 81 crash in Montgomery County kills four people

interstate 81
(© Wirestock – stock.adobe.com)

Four people in an SUV pulling a U-Haul on Interstate 81 in Montgomery County died in a 3:30 a.m. Tuesday crash, according to Virginia State Police.

A 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was pulling a U-Haul trailer traveling north on Interstate 81, when the vehicle lost control and spun around at the 120.3 mile marker, coming to rest facing southbound in the northbound travel lanes.  The Chevrolet was then struck by a northbound Freightliner tractor trailer.

The Chevrolet was driven by Douangpee Amnatkeo, 54, of Shippensburg, Pa. Amnatkeo died at the scene.

There were three passengers in the Chevrolet. Monthy Matnopaseuth, 39, of Reading, Pa., and Ericssan Kathpratoum, 13, Shippensburg, Pa., died at the scene. The third passenger, Samiane Kothpratoum, 37 of Shippensburg, Pa., was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital by helicopter, where he later died.

The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.

The fatal accident came hours after a series of accidents at the 120 mile marker involving an estimated 20 vehicles shut down that section of interstate in the northbound travel lanes on Monday.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].