Fiery I-81 crash involving oxygen tanks leaves 2 dead in Virginia’s Frederick County – WTOP News
Two men were killed after a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a truck carrying oxygen tanks sparked explosions on Interstate 81 in Frederick County, Virginia, on Thursday night, according to police.
Virginia State Police said a car attempting to enter southbound I-81 crossed two lanes and struck a tractor-trailer in the northbound lanes, which then hit a truck carrying oxygen tanks, near Exit 310 in Winchester.
The crash sparked a fire that caused the oxygen tanks to explode, damaging multiple nearby vehicles.
The tractor-trailer’s driver, Russell R. Haskins, 64, of Altavista, Virginia, died at the scene, according to state police.
The driver of the truck carrying oxygen tanks, Jeffrey J. Hudnell, 52, of Philadelphia, suffered serious injuries and later died at a hospital.
Police said the driver of the car, Mario A. Saldivar-Romaro of Rockingham County, Virginia, was not injured. He was charged with reckless driving.
Virginia State Police said the deadly crash remains under investigation.
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