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Series of wrecks creates gridlock on Interstate 81


by
Zach Crizer | 981-3234

Saturday, March 9, 2013


Multiple crashes on northbound Interstate 81 brought traffic to a halt Friday afternoon, slowing travelers for more than four hours.

Virginia State Police officials said troopers were tending to at least seven crashes on I-81 northbound between mile marker 125 in Montgomery County and mile marker 140 in Salem about 4 p.m.

Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said the glut of wrecks was the result of a traffic surge of students leaving Virginia Tech and Radford University for spring break.

State police said a crash near mile marker 136 involved a motorcycle, and rescue crews responded to that crash. Carpentieri said one wreck involved five vehicles. The area between mile marker 133 and mile marker 137 saw at least three crashes.

Traffic was backed up for at least 9 miles at one point Friday afternoon, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Travelers on the northbound side of I-81 faced delays until shortly after 8 p.m., more than four hours after the series of wrecks began.

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