I-64 eastbound near Woodlawn Friday afternoon, closed for 3.5 hours

Two crashes on Interstate 64 near the Woodlawn exit caused major traffic jams Friday afternoon by closing eastbound lanes. The first incident occurred at 12:26 p.m., closing eastbound lanes of US 51 in Richview to Mt. Vernon for three and a half hours. According to Jefferson Fire officials, the accident occurred when a tractor-trailer passed under the trailer of another tractor-trailer that had slowed for traffic. The impact forced the struck tractor-trailer into a car that had also slowed to accommodate traffic. Fortunately, all four people involved refused to be hospitalized for minor injuries. Both trucks blocked the roadway, requiring the eastbound lanes to be closed until they could be cleared. Jefferson Fire helped clean up an oil and fuel spill.

Emergency personnel also attended to a person in one of the stopped cars who was low on oxygen, successfully replenishing their supply.

About an hour after the eastbound lane was closed, Jefferson Fire reported another collision, this time in the westbound lanes, four miles west of Woodlawn. This accident involved a car and a semi-trailer, causing minor injuries.