Deputy, two inmates injured in crash on I-81 in Roanoke County

Police say the vehicle was rear-ended by a pickup truck, then overturned in the median

(KPRC)

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va.UPDATE - Friday, June 2

Virginia State Police said Thursday at around 9:32 p.m., police responded to a traffic crash at mile marker 133.8 southbound on I-81.

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We’re told the crash involved two vehicles, a pickup truck struck a Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. The sheriff’s vehicle was struck in the rear by the pickup truck, causing the Explorer to overturn.

According to authorities, the sheriff’s vehicle was transporting two inmates, and both the deputy and inmates were taken to Lewis Gale Hospital for injuries received in the crash.

VSP said there is no information for the other driver at this time, but the call shows there was a summons issued for the driver of the pickup truck, which caused the crash.

All lanes reopened by 12:30 a.m., authorities said.


UPDATE

A deputy and two inmates were taken to the hospital after a crash on I-81 in Roanoke County Thursday evening, according to Virginia State Police.

The crash happened on I-81 South when a Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office vehicle, which was transporting two inmates, was rear-ended by a Ford pickup, police said.

After the sheriff’s office vehicle was hit, it overturned in the median, according to VSP.

Police said the deputy and the two inmates were taken to Lewis Gale Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. No word on their current conditions.

We’re told VDOT is setting up a traffic detour at the 137 exit to route traffic around the crash until the area is cleared.

As of 11:27 p.m., VDOT reports traffic backups of nearly three miles. Crews say the left lane and south left shoulder are still closed.

Crash on I-81 in Roanoke County causes lane closures, traffic backups (Credit: VDOT) (WSLS)

ORIGINAL STORY

If you plan to head south on I-81 in Roanoke County this evening, you may want to find a different route.

According to VDOT, a crash has closed all southbound lanes at mile marker 133.8.

As of 9:57 p.m., crews say traffic was backed up around 2.5 miles


About the Author:

Alli Graham came aboard the digital team as an evening digital content producer in June 2022.