NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. — A tractor-trailer driver was killed early Friday in a fiery crash on Interstate 64 that closed westbound lanes for several hours, according to Virginia State Police.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near mile marker 220. A commercial car hauler reportedly struck a concrete median barrier, overturning before catching fire.
The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene. Authorities are working to positively identify the victim and notify next of kin.
The crash necessitated extensive cleanup, and as of Friday morning, all westbound lanes near mile marker 219.7 remained closed for repairs due to fire damage, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“Due to the nature of the necessary repairs, drivers should expect westbound I-64 to remain closed for several more hours,” a VDOT spokesperson said.
Traffic was additionally impacted on eastbound I-64, where the right lane near mile marker 217 was closed due to an unrelated tractor-trailer crash, though those lanes have since reopened.
The fatal crash is currently under investigation.