At 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Virginia State Police responded to two crashes in the northbound lanes of I-81 at the 207 mile marker in Augusta County.
A 2002 Ford Taurus was traveling north on I-81 when it crossed over an icy patch in the road, which caused the driver to lose control. The Ford veered into the right travel lane and collided with a northbound tractor-trailer. The impact of the crash caused the tractor-trailer to overturn.
A northbound Chevrolet Silverado pulling a trailer tried to avoid the two-vehicle crash ahead of it and ended up running off the road.
Robert Dennis Gary, 62, of Calhoun City, Miss., was a passenger in the sleeper section of the tractor-trailer. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer, Robert Odie Scott, 55, of South Haven, Miss., was transported to Augusta Health for treatment of serious injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt.
The driver of the Ford Focus, Zaqueo Valenti-Tellez, 26, of Harrisonburg, Va and a male passenger were transported to Augusta Health for treatment of serious injuries. Both were wearing a seatbelt. Valenti-Tellez was issued a summons for failure to maintain control.
The Virginia State Police Appomattox Division Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the ongoing crash investigation.
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Chris Graham
