Bluefield, W.V : Man dies in fiery I-77 crash in Bland County on Wednesday, August 17, 2016

A Wisconsin man was killed in an early morning, fiery crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 77 in Bland County on Wednesday.

The Wytheville Detachment of the Virginia State Police identified the man as Reginald C. Tye, 51, of Racine, Wisconsin. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

State Police dispatcher R. Leonard said his co-driver, who was not identified, was treated and released.

Tye was ejected during the crash and police speculate the co-driver was in the sleeper compartment.

“He was traveling south on Interstate 77 and ran off the road to the left, struck the bridge (mile marker 5, just south of the weight scales) and overturned in the median,” Leonard said.

The engine compartment caught fire, he said, but the trailer, which was full of cooking oil, stayed intact.

“There was no contamination with the oil,” he said.

Both lanes were closed until 8:30 a.m. and traffic was diverted onto Rt. 52.

Leonard said a truck had to be called in to pump the cooking oil out of that trailer and into another. After that, a wrecker was ready to tow away the tractor and trailer.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Both lanes were scheduled to reopen by 8:30 p.m.

Source :
Man dies in fiery I-77 crash