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Omaha Steve

(99,663 posts) Sun Dec 22, 2019, 04:32 PM Dec 2019

Police: 63-vehicle pileup in Virginia results in injuries

Source: AP

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — A pileup involving more than 60 cars on a major interstate in Virginia on Sunday morning injured dozens of people, some critically, according to state police.

The accident happened just before 8 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 64 in York County near Williamsburg and for a time shut down traffic in both directions, Virginia State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya said in a statement.

The agency tweeted that there was fog and ice along a bridge when what was described as a chain-reaction wreck began.

Photos from the scene showed a tangled mass of metal, with car hoods crumpled, windows smashed and a red truck plopped on top of another vehicle.

Drivers remain on the scene of a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 64 in York County, Va., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (Ivan Levy via AP)

Read more: https://apnews.com/ab35613d2cc279586806aa622f7c89a5

8 replies

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Highlight:

Police: 63-vehicle pileup in Virginia results in injuries (Original Post) Omaha Steve Dec 2019 OP

My old neck of the woods. I hope the injured turn out ok. appalachiablue Dec 2019 #1

I-64 Westbound opened back up at 330 pm Yonnie3 Dec 2019 #2

Fog can cause horrific accidents, as in this one from 1990 csziggy Dec 2019 #3

Whew, thanks intense. JudyM Dec 2019 #4

I'm used to dealing with extremely heavy rainfall csziggy Dec 2019 #5

I've done quite a bit of winter driving in British Columbia in the winter. Arthur_Frain Dec 2019 #8

You can't judge speed your speed in the fog njhoneybadger Dec 2019 #6

Police: 69-vehicle pileup in Virginia leaves dozens injured Judi Lynn Dec 2019 #7

appalachiablue

(41,146 posts)

1. My old neck of the woods. I hope the injured turn out ok.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 05:22 PM

Dec 2019

How awful on a Sunday morning before Christmas.

Yonnie3

(17,444 posts)

2. I-64 Westbound opened back up at 330 pm

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 05:26 PM

Dec 2019

It was closed about 8 hours.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10817485 in the Virginia Group has several links and images.

csziggy

(34,136 posts)

3. Fog can cause horrific accidents, as in this one from 1990

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 09:09 PM

Dec 2019

The investigation was made into a Forensic Files episode:

That Time A Paper Mill Was Blamed For A Massive Highway Crash
This is the story of how a paper factory played a perceived role in a devastating 99-car pileup in southeastern Tennessee

It’s easy to take road safety for granted these days. We like to think that engineers have designed our roadways to take every possible eventuality into account. However, there are some hazards that are simply difficult to predict, and even harder to adapt to. This fact became tragically profound on the morning of December 11, 1990.

The day started just like any other for people driving along the stretch of Interstate 75 near Calhoun, Tennessee. Although that stretch of highway had a reputation for being prone to accidents, conscientious commuters didn’t see anything that would cause concern.

That would change at approximately 9:10 AM, when fog began to blanket the freeway. Although regular commuters were used to occasional fog near the Hiawassee River, this fog was different. It was so thick that anyone caught in it was literally driving blind. Drivers couldn’t see what they were about to hit, let alone be able to react to it while going 70mph. The 99-car chain-reaction collision that followed was inevitable. 42 people were injured, and 12 people lost their lives, making this one of the deadliest car accidents on record.

More: https://www.carthrottle.com/post/that-time-a-paper-mill-was-blamed-for-a-massive-highway-crash/

JudyM

(29,251 posts)

4. Whew, thanks intense.

Reply to csziggy (Reply #3)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 10:02 PM

Dec 2019

Stopping distance judgment needs to always factor in the unexpected... I forget this too...

csziggy

(34,136 posts)

5. I'm used to dealing with extremely heavy rainfall

Reply to JudyM (Reply #4)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 10:36 PM

Dec 2019

Which can white out nearly as completely as a heavy fog - which we also get here - or snow, which I have no experience. Nothing like driving into a wall of water, only to find out that the car in front of you has slowed from 75 to 20 - and you can only see about 2 car lengths!

Fortunately, these days there are seldom times when I HAVE to be out on the road if the weather is bad. That way, if there is rain or fog, I can just wait a bit to drive somewhere.

I've seen that Forensic Files a couple of times - it is terrifying.

Arthur_Frain

(1,853 posts)

8. I've done quite a bit of winter driving in British Columbia in the winter.

Reply to csziggy (Reply #3)

Mon Dec 23, 2019, 02:06 AM

Dec 2019

Those pulp mills? After dark when they start up the smart move is to stop driving. I’ve encountered solid walls of fog. No fun.

njhoneybadger

(3,910 posts)

6. You can't judge speed your speed in the fog

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 10:37 PM

Dec 2019

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)

7. Police: 69-vehicle pileup in Virginia leaves dozens injured

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Dec 22, 2019, 11:22 PM

Dec 2019

Police: 69-vehicle pileup in Virginia leaves dozens injured
Updated 7:15 pm CST, Sunday, December 22, 2019

- Photos at link -

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — A pileup involving more than 60 cars on a major interstate in Virginia on Sunday morning injured dozens of people, according to state police.

The crash happened just before 8 a.m. Sunday on westbound Interstate 64 in York County near Williamsburg, Virginia State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya said. No fatalities were reported, but it took crews several hours to clear the roadway and reopen all lanes of traffic.

Authorities do not yet know the cause of the crash, but fog and icy road conditions were contributing factors, Anaya said.

Photos from the scene showed a tangled mass of metal, with car hoods crumpled, windows smashed and a red truck plopped on top of another vehicle.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Police-35-vehicle-pileup-in-Virginia-results-in-14925673.php#photo-18793072

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