Sunday, September 28, 2008
I-81 crash near Buchanan backs up traffic 9 miles
Photos by S. J. Carter | Special to The Botetourt View
According to VDOT, a tractor-trailer hit the left side of a bridge over Purgatory Creek resulting in a 70 gallon diesel and oil spill that closed the right northbound lane.
Diesel and oil can be seen covering the highway and a tree following an accident involving a tractor-trailer.
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The Botetourt View
A tractor-trailer hit a bridge on Interstate 81 and caused major delays in Botetourt County for much of Saturday afternoon, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The accident occurred about noon at mile marker 167 on I-81 southbound near Buchanan and caused traffic to back up for about 9 miles.
VDOT spokeswoman Heidi Coy said a tractor-trailer hit the left side of a bridge over Purgatory Creek, resulting in a 70-gallon diesel and oil spill that closed the left lane.
That lane was closed for more than five hours while crews cleaned up the spill.
Virginia State Police charged the driver, Abdinur Samatar, of Columbus, Ohio, with reckless driving, according to Trooper D.E. Rigby.
Nobody was injured in the incident, Rigby said.
A bridge inspection crew was at the scene to survey the damage, but Rigby said he wasn't sure about the extent of the damage.
-- Jessica Marcy
