Multiple I-66 Crashes In One Evening Cause Fatality, Injuries

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Multiple crashes involving injuries tied up traffic on Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia Wednesday evening, including a tow truck that was hit after responding to a crash.

The first crash happened around 6:31 p.m. at the 51 mile marker, which is near the Route 29 exit in Centreville. According to Virginia State Police, multiple vehicles were involved in a chain reaction crash on westbound I-66. One driver had minor injuries but declined treatment.

The next crash happened around 6:49 p.m. on westbound I-66 near Exit 62 for Nutley Street. Police say a Jeep Compass SUV rear-ended a tow truck, which was responding to the first crash. The tow truck had slowed to a stop when the Jeep rear-ended it, causing the Jeep to spin into the westbound lane and hit a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.

The Jeep driver was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and died of her injuries. The driver's identity has not yet been publicly identified.

The tow truck driver also went to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The Toyota driver was not injured.

That crash caused all westbound lanes to be closed before the Nutley Street exit as well as ramps from I-495. I-66 Express Lanes remained open. Backed up traffic was getting by on the right shoulder. All lanes were reopened as of 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The third crash happened at 7:35 p.m. on eastbound I-66 near the 56 mile marker, which is between Fairfax County Parkway and Route 50 (formerly Lee Jackson Memorial Highway). The two-vehicle crash caused one driver to be taken to the hospital.

The three crashes are under investigation by Virginia State Police, and charges are pending.