HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – One individual suffered life-threatening injuries, and two others were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a multi-vehicle wreck closed Interstate 81 for several hours early Wednesday morning.

The Harrisonburg Fire Department and Harrisonburg Rescue Squad were dispatched to I-81 in the area of mile marker 244 just after 1 a.m. for a wreck involving three tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle blocking all lanes of northbound travel. Crews located the driver of one tractor trailer heavily entangled and began dismantling the severely damaged cab to extract him. A medevac helicopter was dispatched to the scene after an initial assessment found that the individual was suffering from life-threatening injuries.

After accessing the individual through the back wall of the cab, crews determined his legs were pinned. Several heavy wreckers were brought to the scene and used to drag the tractor trailers apart to facilitate access and extrication. HFD firefighter/paramedics provided stabilizing care with the assistance of the helicopter flight crew. A Harrisonburg Police Department officer was dispatched to Sentara RMH and delivered two additional units of blood to the scene to assist in treatment.

The 57-year-old driver was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center in life-threatening condition.

“This was one of the most complicated and complex extrication efforts our department has experienced in a long time,” HFD Chief Matt Tobia said. “The immense professionalism, dedication, perseverance and grit displayed by the personnel involved is a reflection of their commitment to striving for perfection in every aspect of their jobs. The inter-agency cooperation exhibited by all agencies involved including fire, rescue, aeromedical, law enforcement, the tow operators and traffic management is evidenced in the successful rescue of this individual.”

I-81 was closed in both directions for nearly three hours.

Viriginia State Police continue to investigate the cause of the crash.