At 11:03 a.m., Wednesday (Aug. 6), Virginia State Police Trooper J.D. Cash responded to a five-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 64 near the 128 mile marker in Albemarle County. One individual died at the scene and a second individual died later Wednesday. Two others were injured.
Traffic in the westbound lanes of I-64 had slowed for an existing traffic crash in the westbound lanes. A westbound flatbed tractor-trailer failed to stop in time and rear-ended a Nissan Pathfinder. The Pathfinder was pushed into a Lincoln Town Car. A Chevrolet Suburban was struck causing it to run off the left side of the interstate and overturn. The Suburban then struck a second tractor-trailer. Meanwhile, the Lincoln Town Car was struck by the first (flatbed) tractor-trailer and the impact caused the Lincoln to catch fire.
The driver of the Pathfinder, Kelsey A. Lesslick, 24, of Zion Crossroads, Va., was flown to UVA Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
The driver of the Lincoln Town Car, Vicki L. Shields, 70, of Palmyra, Va., died at the scene.
The adult male driver of the Suburban was not injured. His wife was transported to UVA Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The backseat passenger, an adult male, was ejected from the vehicle as it overturned. The male passenger was transported to UVA Medical Center, where he died later Wednesday. State police are still in the process of notifying the decedent’s next of kin.
The driver of the flatbed tractor-trailer, James J. Nagy, 50, of Bangor, Penn., was not injured in the crash. Nagy was charged with reckless driving. Additional charges are pending the ongoing investigation.
The driver of the second tractor-trailer, an adult male from West Virginia, was not injured in the crash.
All westbound lanes were re-opened to traffic by 3 p.m.
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