HAZMAT: I-95 South Shut Down

Three tractor trailers collide near overnight paving zone.

Frank Hammon
WFLS News

Date published: 7/7/2005

Interstate-95 southbound remains closed this morning between Thornburg and Massaponax after an accident involving three tractor trailers.

State police say the wreck occurred at mile marker 122 clogging the highway for miles. Northbound lanes were also closed, but two of them have since reopened.

U.S. 1 became clogged with motorists detouring around the mess at one point was also closed for about two hours due to a vehicle fire. That has since been cleared up.

VDOT spokesowman Tina Bundy says the accident occurred at about 1:40 a.m. as a tractor trailer slowed for an overnight paving operation. A chain-reaction accident followed involving two other tractor trailers. She says one of the trucks was carrying sulfuric acid. State police would only say that several containers filled with a chemical on board one of the trucks had ruptured.

The Fredericksburg Fire Department HAZMAT Team is on the scene. Bundy says the paving project inspector had to under a decontamination process and is reported to be okay.

No one on the paving crew was injured.

The drivers of the trucks are reported to have sustained some injuries. According to State police Sergeant F.L. Tyler they were taken to Mary Washington Hospital.

Tyler says that the first two troopers who arrived on the sceen came in close contact with the chemical and went to the hospital to get checked. They have since been treated and released.

People stuck in traffic on the highway have also been told to stay in their cars.

Authorities indicate it may be hours before the wreckage is cleared and the scene cleaned up.

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Date published: 7/7/2005