
A series of crashes involving 16 semi trucks and 19 passenger vehicles sent numerous people to the hospital.
It happened on Thursday afternoon around 4 p.m. on Interstate 81 in Montgomery County, Virginia. According to police, 15 separate chain-reaction crashes occurred between mile marker 107 and 109 in the northbound lanes and between mile marker 114 and 116 in the southbound lanes.
In total, 35 vehicles were involved.
Motorists were urged to avoid the area.
Traffic Alert Update: I-81 NB at mm 109. Multi vehicle crash ongoing. Congestion is at 10 miles. Seek alternate routes. Avoid the area.
— VDOT Salem (@VaDOTSalem) September 29, 2016
Traffic Alert: I-81 SB multiple crashes mm 112 to 115. All SB lanes closed at mm 114. Traffic exiting at 114. Seek alternate routes.
— VDOT Salem (@VaDOTSalem) September 29, 2016
The cause of the crashes is under investigation, but police believe heavy rain may have been a factor. No fatalities were reported, but many were injured. The extent of these injuries was not confirmed.
Traffic was backed up for about 10 miles while emergency crews responded to the collisions.
WSET reported that northbound I-81 was closed from 3:45 pm to 7:30 pm while Hazmat worked to clear the area.
At around 7:30, one lane was reopened. By 9:30 p.m., the wreckage was cleared and all lanes were reopened.