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63-Vehicle Pileup on Virginia Highway Injures 45, Officials Say 69-Vehicle Pileup on Virginia Highway Injures 51, Police Say
(about 3 hours later)
A pileup involving more than 60 vehicles on an icy and foggy Virginia highway on Sunday morning left at least 45 people hurt, the authorities said. A pileup involving nearly 70 vehicles on an icy and foggy Virginia highway on Sunday morning left at least 51 people hurt, the police said.
Photos from the wrecks showed a long string of cars with severe body damage at peculiar angles, with firefighters standing on hoods and roofs to reach those trapped. Photos from the wrecks showed a long string of cars on Interstate 64 with severe body damage at peculiar angles, with firefighters standing on hoods and roofs to reach those trapped.
The Virginia State Police said no one had been killed but 45 people were taken to hospitals with injuries that ranged from minor to life-threatening. The Virginia State Police said no one had been killed but 51 people were taken to hospitals with injuries that ranged from minor to moderate, and 11 people were being treated for serious injuries.
The Riverside Doctors’ Hospital in Williamsburg, Va., treated 21 patients. Of those, 15 had minor injuries and six had moderate injuries, Peter Glagola, a hospital spokesman, said.The Riverside Doctors’ Hospital in Williamsburg, Va., treated 21 patients. Of those, 15 had minor injuries and six had moderate injuries, Peter Glagola, a hospital spokesman, said.
At the Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Va., one patient was in serious condition, five were being treated for moderate injuries and 18 treated for minor injuries, Mr. Glagola said. He said those with moderate or minor injuries would likely be treated at the hospital and released.At the Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Va., one patient was in serious condition, five were being treated for moderate injuries and 18 treated for minor injuries, Mr. Glagola said. He said those with moderate or minor injuries would likely be treated at the hospital and released.
The Riverside facilities saw 45 patients, but Mr. Glagola said that total number was likely to increase.The Riverside facilities saw 45 patients, but Mr. Glagola said that total number was likely to increase.
“The patients we saw were brought in by E.M.S.,” Mr. Glagola said. “Some patients refused treatment on scene and might come in later.”“The patients we saw were brought in by E.M.S.,” Mr. Glagola said. “Some patients refused treatment on scene and might come in later.”
Details on the remaining six patients were unavailable from other hospitals.
The crash happened a little before 8 a.m. near the Queens Creek Bridge in York County, Va., which is about 50 miles east of Richmond.The crash happened a little before 8 a.m. near the Queens Creek Bridge in York County, Va., which is about 50 miles east of Richmond.
The first crashes happened in the westbound lanes of the highway. Drivers also crashed into one another in the eastbound lanes because they were distracted by the crashes in the westbound lane, the police said.The first crashes happened in the westbound lanes of the highway. Drivers also crashed into one another in the eastbound lanes because they were distracted by the crashes in the westbound lane, the police said.
“There was ice on the bridge and heavy fog in the area at the time of the crash,” the State Police said on Facebook.“There was ice on the bridge and heavy fog in the area at the time of the crash,” the State Police said on Facebook.
Tow truck companies mobilized to clear the road as quickly as possible.Tow truck companies mobilized to clear the road as quickly as possible.
“There were probably 20 trucks out here all together,” John Wilson, the owner of Wilson’s Towing, said. “There were cars everywhere and on top of each other.”“There were probably 20 trucks out here all together,” John Wilson, the owner of Wilson’s Towing, said. “There were cars everywhere and on top of each other.”
He said “every one of them is totaled pretty much,” adding, “I worked wrecks and stuff before, but not one with this many cars in it.”He said “every one of them is totaled pretty much,” adding, “I worked wrecks and stuff before, but not one with this many cars in it.”