VIRGINIA — Several people, including a Virginia State Police trooper and two Wythe County deputies, were injured Wednesday morning during a rescue effort following a tractor-trailer crash that closed Interstate 81 southbound.
The incident began at 4:16 a.m. near mile marker 66 when a Toyota Corolla went off the left side of the highway, struck a guardrail, and stopped in the left lane. The driver exited the vehicle safely.
Two commercial tractor trailers attempted to avoid the wrecked Corolla and its driver but collided with each other and overturned. One of the trailers caught fire.
Authorities said a trooper helped one person from a tractor trailer, while two deputies rescued the Corolla driver from the burning vehicle.
The VSP trooper and two deputies were treated for smoke inhalation and are expected to recover. The driver of the burning tractor trailer sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized.
The drivers of the Corolla and the second tractor trailer were also taken to the hospital and are expected to be okay.
