Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Weather causes minor wrecks, brings down trees
Heavy rains overnight and this morning pulled trees to the ground and slicked roadways, causing some brief roadblocks in Roanoke and Botetourt County this morning.
The 1600 block of Melrose Avenue in Roanoke remains closed while public works crews remove a tree that fell on power lines. Police are redirecting traffic, according to the city's dispatch office. Fallen trees also were cleared from the the 2100 block of Melrose Avenue and the 3200 block of Avenham Avenue.
In Botetourt County, meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Transportation reported at least three wrecks on southbound Interstate 81 north of Buchanan between mile markers 159 and 174.
The wrecks intermittently closed the left lane or both southbound lanes of I-81 between 11 a.m. and noon, according to VDOT reports.
Virginia State Police troopers have not released a cause for the wrecks.
"When you get a bunch of accidents like this, it's usually weather related," Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said.
No wrecks with life-threatening injuries have been reported.
Wind and downed trees have cut power to more than 2,000 customers in the region, said Todd Burns, a spokesman for Appalachian Power.
According to Appalachian's Web site, about 1,000 customers in Henry County have lost power, as have 600 in Franklin County, 400 in Montgomery County, 300 in Roanoke County and 150 in Floyd County.
Burns did not know how long it would take crews to restore electricity in those areas but said the average restoration time is three hours.
Roanoke Regional Airport recorded more than 2 inches of rain this morning, and a flash flood watch remains in effect through tonight from Lexington to Bedford, the Roanoke Valley, Franklin County and Martinsville, according to the National Weather Service.
The 1600 block of Melrose Avenue in Roanoke remains closed while public works crews remove a tree that fell on power lines. Police are redirecting traffic, according to the city's dispatch office. Fallen trees also were cleared from the the 2100 block of Melrose Avenue and the 3200 block of Avenham Avenue.
In Botetourt County, meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Transportation reported at least three wrecks on southbound Interstate 81 north of Buchanan between mile markers 159 and 174.
The wrecks intermittently closed the left lane or both southbound lanes of I-81 between 11 a.m. and noon, according to VDOT reports.
Virginia State Police troopers have not released a cause for the wrecks.
"When you get a bunch of accidents like this, it's usually weather related," Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said.
No wrecks with life-threatening injuries have been reported.
Wind and downed trees have cut power to more than 2,000 customers in the region, said Todd Burns, a spokesman for Appalachian Power.
According to Appalachian's Web site, about 1,000 customers in Henry County have lost power, as have 600 in Franklin County, 400 in Montgomery County, 300 in Roanoke County and 150 in Floyd County.
Burns did not know how long it would take crews to restore electricity in those areas but said the average restoration time is three hours.
Roanoke Regional Airport recorded more than 2 inches of rain this morning, and a flash flood watch remains in effect through tonight from Lexington to Bedford, the Roanoke Valley, Franklin County and Martinsville, according to the National Weather Service.
