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VERONA VA: (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Minutes before first responders arrived, it was total strangers who rushed to the aid of a trucker along Interstate 81 Saturday.
Augusta County emergency personnel are thanking some of the drivers who witnessed Saturday’s fiery crash involving a tractor trailer and passenger vehicle. According to Augusta County Fire and Rescue, several people rushed into the Middle River, after the cab of the truck ran off the bridge and crashed into the river below. A Good Samaritan pulled the driver from the river. The trailer attached to the truck caught fire and blocked the north bound lanes of Interstate 81 for several hours.
Virginia State Police say three people were injured, including the driver of the truck, the passenger vehicle and one of those who jumped into the river. The driver of the tractor trailer was air lifted to the hospital with life threatening injuries. State Police are continuing to investigate the accident.
Multiple emergency services including the Verona Volunteer Fire Company, Weyers Cave Volunteer Fire Company, Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Company, Staunton-Augusta County First Aid & Rescue, Grottoes Rescue Squad, Air Care 5 and Augusta County Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.
The Middle River bridge has been the scene of several accidents over the years including an accident involving a gas tanker in the late 1990’s. The driver of that truck died in the accident and the tanker exploded, causing damage to the bridge.
The condition of the truck driver is unknown at this time. Also, it’s not clear if VDOT will need to do any repairs to the bridge.
Tractor trailer overturns, catching fire and sending driver into river