The main highway running north and south along the East Coast has been brought to a standstill because of a winter storm.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has shut down a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 after a crash that involved six tractor-trailers, The Associated Press reported.
The crash happened Monday afternoon, and although no one was hurt, it stopped traffic. Vehicles became stuck as snow piled up around them, making it impossible to move. Nearly a foot of snow fell in the area during that time.
If you have a medical or life/safety emergency should dial 911. Please provide the make & model of your vehicle, as well as the nearest mile marker. Please stay inside the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/zLMFWGy4TS
— VDOT Fredericksburg (@VaDOTFRED) January 4, 2022
State police had warned people to not travel on Monday unless necessary, especially into the evening, when the temperatures dropped the roads started freezing, the AP reported.
VDOT crews started moving vehicles off I-95 around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
On top of the dangerous driving conditions, many traffic cameras were offline because of power outages in the same area, the AP reported.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam tweeted that the state is trying to get support to stranded drivers who have been stuck in their vehicles in the cold all night, many without food or water, and that the state is setting up warming shelters as needed.
An emergency message is going to all stranded drivers connecting them to support, and the state is working with localities to open warming shelters as needed.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 4, 2022
While sunlight is expected to help @VaDOT clear the road, all Virginians should continue to avoid 1-95.
WJLA reported that motorists were calling the newsroom to say not only that they did not have food or water, but there was also no access to bathrooms and cars were running out of gas.
According to @ALL_IN_MCDOGE_1 who is stuck on I-95, the ice is a few inches thick in the southbound lane near Stafford. @7NewsDC pic.twitter.com/vvKknwYoFZ
— Kristen Powers (@Kristen7News) January 4, 2022
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