Home Interstate 81: Police help driver to safety after vehicle catches fire following crash
Virginia

Interstate 81: Police help driver to safety after vehicle catches fire following crash

virginia state police interstate 81 file photo accident interstate
File photo courtesy Virginia State Police

A Virginia State Police trooper and a Wythe County Sheriff’s Department deputy helped a driver to safety after his van caught fire on Interstate 81 on Wednesday.

Police released dashcam footage of the incident today.

Virginia State Trooper D. Marshall arrived at the crash scene at 4:51 p.m. on I-81 southbound at the 70 mile marker.

According to the initial investigation, the fire started after an accident when the driver of the van struck a commercial vehicle that had slowed for traffic in the left lane of the interstate.

The driver of the van suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries on Wednesday evening. Felipe Baez, 42, of Midland, Texas, was taken to an area hospital for treatment.  He has now been charged with reckless driving, according to VSP.

The driver of the commercial vehicle had minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Support AFP




Multimedia

 

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham 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]

Latest News

mike young virginia tech
Basketball

Virginia Tech, for some reason, gives Mike Young a one-year contract extension

newspapers
Local

We don’t report news to make money, we make money to report news

The quote from Walt Disney, “We don't make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies,” best describes my approach to our efforts here with Augusta Free Press.

john mcguire
Virginia Politics

John McGuire thinks COVID vaccine was a ‘BLT sandwich of fetus baby parts’

John McGuire, the MAGA Republican incumbent congressman in the Fifth District, who we know isn’t bright, claimed in a Newsmax interview on Thursday that the COVID vaccine contained “a BLT sandwich of fetus baby parts.”

Tom Perriello
Virginia Politics

Tom Perriello is going to need to make amends with local Democratic Socialists

Northrop Grumman logo
Local

Waynesboro: We’re going to get another DEQ hearing on Northrop Grumman request

vote
Virginia Politics

Spanberger administration highlights push to restore voting rights

weather water drought temperature advisory
Virginia

Virginia: Drought advisories remain in effect despite beneficial rains over the past week