Interstate 664 northbound reopened after crash
Published 1:08 pm Wednesday, October 8, 2014
UPDATED 5:56 p.m.: Virginia State Police say the accident was cleared and the road reopened shortly after 4 p.m. The involved vehicle was also a box truck, not a tractor-trailer as previously reported, state police said.
The driver of the box truck, Billy Cooper, 74, of the 200 block of Unser Drive in Hampton, was charged with following too closely. He was driving in the right lane when traffic began to slow, and he struck the rear of a 2013 Honda Accord being driven by 30-year-old Mary Jane Durago of the 500 block of Marcella Road in Hampton. The truck pushed the accord to the left side of the bridge and ran off the road to the right, striking the jersey wall and a pole holding a sign board. The sign board ripped the top of the box truck, causing debris to spread across the interstate.
Durago suffered minor, life-threatening injuries, according to Sgt. Michelle Anaya. Cooper was not injured.
Earlier: An accident on Interstate 664 northbound on Wednesday afternoon left a tractor-trailer hanging off the Monitor-Merrimac bridge, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman said.
Minor injuries were reported. There are no vehicles submerged in the water, Sgt. Michelle Anaya said.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said at 2:53 p.m. that the right lane is open and allowing traffic to flow. The detours that had been diverting traffic to the James River Bridge have been removed, but motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible.
The U.S. Coast Guard is on scene, and other agencies are assisting. Other vehicles are also involved in the incident due to debris, Anaya said.
A James River Bridge opening set for 2 p.m. has been delayed to 3 p.m.
Check back later for updates.