Roanoke, VA : Pulaski man dies in tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 81 on Saturday September 3 2016

A Pulaski man was killed when a tractor-trailer overturned and caught fire on Interstate 81 near Christiansburg on Saturday, according to Virginia State Police.
The 2003 International tractor-trailer was headed south on I-81 in the right lane when driver Jeffery Curtis Pritchard, 62, lost control and ran off the road. When Pritchard tried to correct and came back onto the road, the vehicle overturned in the median and caught on fire. Sgt. Rick Garletts said Pritchard was wearing his seat belt and died at the scene.
This happened just after 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to Garletts.
The tractor-trailer, which was carrying diesel fuel, was the only vehicle involved in the crash, Garletts said.
All northbound and southbound lanes were closed for part of the afternoon, causing major delays.
One lane on each side of the interstate reopened, but interstate traffic intensified by the Virginia Tech home football game — still moved slowly.


Source :
Pulaski man dies in tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 81