Two truck drivers were seriously injured following a near head-on collision on I-85 Wednesday near Petersburg, Virginia. According to CBS 6 News, the accident happened around 3:15 a.m. near the Sycamore Street Bridge overpass.
The incident occurred when a 2006 Peterbilt 18-wheeler was traveling south on the highway and veered off the left shoulder of the road. The truck took out a guardrail and struck the bridge overpass before crossing into oncoming lanes of traffic. The trailer was then hit by a box truck that overturned.
The 40-year-old driver of the box truck, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time, was taken to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 33-year-old man from Yadkinville, North Carolina, was taken to Southside Regional Medical Center to be treated for serious, but not-life threatening, injuries. Upon his release, he was charged with reckless driving and failure to wear his seat belt.
Police also called in a bridge engineer to inspect the overpass, which was struck by the large truck, for any damage. It was deemed safe and reopened to traffic a short time later.
The Richmond truck accident attorneys with Geoff McDonald and Associates would like to take this opportunity to remind citizens of the importance of buckling up every time you get into a motor vehicle. Doing so will greatly increase your chances of survival in the event of an accident.