On May 19, 2016, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Annie Mae Eley, 86, was a back seat passenger in a Pontiac. The vehicle stopped at a red light in northbound VA Route 32, when the Pontiac was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer. The impact caused a chain reaction crash involving four vehicles.
Ms. Eley was transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to injuries suffered in the crash. Four other victims suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The truck driver was not injured. He was charged with reckless driving and other charges may be pending. The crash is under investigation by the Virginia State Police.
The current federal weight limit for a large interstate truck is 80,000 pounds, but for some states, there are exemptions and permits allowing even heavier trucks to travel on our roadways. Bigger, heavier trucks are more likely to be in a crash, more likely to cause damage to our roads and bridges, and more likely to result in an injury or death.
To find more information please visit the website: https://trucksafety.org or send an email to info@trucksafety.org