Two injured in I-81 single-vehicle crash
* Breaking NewsIf local news is breaking and you know about it:
* Call Us: 800-296-5137 * E-mail Us * Upload Your Photos |
Recommend ThisDriver, passenger airlifted from scene; helicopter traffic delays town's fireworks celebration
By Kaitlin Mayhew -- kmayhew@nvdaily.com
WOODSTOCK -- A single-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 on Saturday night resulted in both the driver and a passenger being airlifted from the scene with injuries.
The vehicle, a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser, was traveling southbound when it ran off the road near the Woodstock exit, according to Sgt. Les Tyler, public information officer with the Virginia State Police.
The car initially veered to the left before the driver, Roger Dodson, 65, of Greeneville, Tenn., overcorrected, Tyler said. The vehicle ran off the right side of the road, collided with a guardrail and rolled into an embankment, coming to rest at the 283 mile marker, he said.
There were no other vehicles involved.
Tyler said the crash was most likely due to "driver inattention."
The incident occured at 8:40 p.m., and trooper D.A. Mauck was on the scene by 8:49 p.m., Tyler said.
Dodson sustained servere injuries and was taken by helicopter to the University of Virginia Medical Center.
The passenger, Mark Andrew Waite, 47, also of Greeneville, was flown to Winchester Medical Center with injuries.
Mauck has issued a summons to Dodson for reckless driving, Tyler said. No additional charges were filed. He was assisted at the scene by the Woodstock Fire and Rescue department.
The town's Independence Day fireworks display, which was scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, was delayed because of the heavy air traffic associated with transporting the two injured persons, according to Woodstock Fire Chief Wayne Bowers.
The display, located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds, had been rescheduled for Saturday because of inclement weather on July 4. The show did continue as planned after the traffic cleared.
1 
Let's not forget the Toms Brook Fire Department and the Shenandoah County Fire and Rescue.