WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/04/99

[7E-81-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-4 TC10:25]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
[**ANCHOR TAG**]
At least four deaths are being blamed on an ice- slicked bridge and thick fog, after a massive accident on Interstate 81 yesterday morning.
Dozens more were injured in the crash on the Buffalo Creek Bridge near Lexington. Northbound traffic was backed up for miles, and re-routed onto US 11. David Johnson reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Oscar Orallanin/Victim; :19]
[SUPER=01-Cpt. Charles Compton/State Police; :37]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:34]
[RUNS=1:53]
[OUT Q=Rockbridge County.]
(( From a birds eye view, it's obvious why northbound interstate traffic was being rerouted. A closer look makes you wonder how anyone survived. 15-vehicles, including eight tractor trailers and seven other passenger vehicles went crashing into one another. Oscar Orallanin was one of the lucky ones who walked away unharmed.
[SOT=09:12:28]
[IN Q=THE LITTLE BRIDGE]
((OSCAR ORALLANIN/VICTIM; THE LITTLE BRIDGE WAS VERY COLD, VERY ICY VERY GREASY.)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=VERY GREASY.]
Orallanin was able to stop, but 15-other drivers were not so fortunate. Officials say a state trooper was investigating a three-vehicle accident when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle.
[SOT=18:16:54]
[IN Q=WE HAD A]
((CPT. CHARLES COMPTON/VA. STATE POLICE; WE HAD A SUPERVISOR ON THE SCENE ALSO. THEY DESCRIBED IT AS SEVERAL VEHICLES SLIDING OUT OF CONTROL.)) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=OUT OF CONTROL.]
That's because Buffalo Creek Bridge was completely iced over and the morning fog was as thick as split pea soup. Rescue crews and others worked more than five hours searching for victims and trying to long to free those trapped inside their vehicles. Blood stained snow would indicate just how badly some people were hurt.
[NAT-SOUND=Sirens or Ambulances pulling away]
[RUNS04] Victims were transported by ambulance to hospitals. Others were taken to an emergency shelter at the Natural Bridge Fire Department. Some of the vehicles were ripped apart, others crushed beyond recognition. Police say it was a miracle that the occupants of this van were not killed.
[NAT-SOUND=Heavy equipment pulling trucks apart]
[RUNS04] Heavy equipment had to be used in an effort to clear the highway. [STAND-UP/] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; INVESTIGATORS ARE QUESTIONING VICTIMS INVOLVED IN THE WRECK AND WITNESSES WHO WERE AT THE SCENE. IT'S PART OF THEIR EFFORT TO RECONSTRUCT THE ACCIDENT AS THEY TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED. BUT OFFICIALS ARE COMPARING THE ACCIDENT TO A PLANE CRASH AND SAY THAT IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE ANYTHING. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY.)) [RUNS15]))
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN MAP]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

One Northbound lane reopened last night, but V-Dot says the other will remain closed until all the wreckage is removed.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE V-Dot Number]
You can get more information on road conditions by calling V-Dot's toll free number-- 1-800-367-ROAD.
(-------------)

[7S-L'burg-Acc]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-02 02:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An accident near Lynchburg sent three people to the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.;]

It started on an icy Carter-Glass Bridge at about 9 yesterday morning.
A woman reportedly stopped her vehicle in the middle of Route 29, and another motorist stopped to help her move to the side of the highway-- but by then other cars began sliding to avoid them.
A tractor trailer jack-knifed and side-swiped this Jeep Cherokee.
Both persons in the jeep and the truck driver were trasported to Lynchburg General Hospital.
Their injuries are not believed to be serious.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a look now at your Monday forecast..
Expect partly cloudy skies today, with northwesterly winds.
Highs will be in the upper-20s.
Cloudy skies and cold air stick around overnight, with temperatures dropping to around 10 degrees.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Cloudy/Winds NW 15/25-29/Partly Cloudy/Very Cold/10-15;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS] 1/5/98
Tuesday:

[SUPER=130-86/Sherman Smith/Copper Hill]

[SUPER=130-15/Tyree Hodge/Martinsville]

[SUPER=130-4/Mary-Katelyn Hammock/Chatham]

[SUPER=130-10/Winston Coffey/Huddleston][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[45S-Wythe-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#99-06 00:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Crews have been working all night to restore gas service to residents in Wytheville.
Service was knocked out yeterday by a natural gas explosion.
Teresa Hamilton reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Wythe County]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kendra Eastwood/Wytheville Fire Fighter; :24 quick!!]
[SUPER=01-Donnie Widner/Ivanhoe Fire Fighter; :31]
[SUPER=01-Ikey Davidson/Wytheville Deputy Fire Chief; 1:01]
[SUPER=01-Jody Mitchell/East Tennessee Natural Gas Co.; 1:12]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Wythe Co.]
((
Wythe County fire fighters hope they're never face to face with a blaze quite like this one.
The explosion sent flames at least 300- feet into the air.
Yet it wasn't the flames--rather the heat that eventually caused a nearby house and motorcycle shop to catch fire.
A videocamera inside a Wytheville police car captured the images. [NAT SOUND 5:26:22:03]
(/////SOT/////)
[2:21:18]
[SOT]
[IN Q=I've ]
((KENDRA EASTWOOD/FIRE FIGHTER:I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THE HEAT WAS INTENSE? YES, IT MELTED THE STICKER ON MY HELMET. )) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=my helmet.]
(/////SOT/////)
[2:22:36]
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was]
((DONNIE WIDNER/IVANHOE FIRE FIGHTER: IT WAS REAL BRIGHT, LIKE DAY LIGHT, YOU COULD SEE IT, I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS, YOU COULD SEE IT 10- MILES DOWN THE ROAD. )) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=down the road.] It would take fire fighters several hours to gain the upper hand.

That's because, before water could do any good, they had to first stop the supply of gas that was fueling the blaze.

Gas company officials were able to do this by closing off valves some 30- miles, in both directions, to lower the gas pressure.
This allowed the fire to die down enough to go in and turn off the valves at the site.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It died ]
((IKEY DAVIDSON /DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF: IT DIED DOWN A LOT... BURNING MOSTLY THE GAS OUT OF THE LINES BUT IT WAS STILL REAL HOT, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS YOU COULD SEE THE SMOKE COMING OFF THE BACK OF HIS COAT. )) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=his coat.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=How scared]
((HOW SCARED WERE YOU? JODY MITCHELL/EAST TENNESSEE GAS CO.:OH, NOT AT ALL, HADN'T DONE IT BEFORE BUT I WAS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WIT THEM AND WHAT THEY KNEW THEY WERE DOING AND THEY PUT UP A BLANKET OF WATER FOR US. )) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=for us.]
[TAKE SU]
At around 10 AM-- the fires were nearly out-- and those here at the scene could begin cleaning up and trying to figure out what happened. [END SU]
Two fire fighters received minor injuries--
Which those on the scene say was a miracle-- considering the enormity of the situation they were called to deal with. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Wytheville. ))
(--------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[45E-Roanoke-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-05 02:57]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The explosion also affected Roanoke Gas... although customers never knew it.
Roanoke is supplied by TWO natural gas lines, so while the East Tennessee Natural Gas was shut down, Roanoke Gas increased the flow from its other supplier.
That, and help from a storage facility in Botetourt County kept gas flowing to Roanoke Customers.
(------------)

[45-81-AX]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#99-4]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal accident]

Four people are dead and more than 20 injured after a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 81 near Lexington.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
[4:09:21]
Yesterday's accident involved eight tractor trailers and seven cars, including a state trooper's vehicle.
One lane of northbound 81 remains closed this morning.
(----------------)

[45E-Campbell-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#99-21 01:48]
[GRAPHIC=fire]

Fire investigators in Campbell County are trying to figure out what started a house fire last night.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]

At about nine, fire crews were called to this home on West Ridge Circle off Timberlake Road.
Flames had already broken through the roof.. but it took less than an hour to get the blaze under control.
Authorities say the woman living there had returned from the store to find the kitchen area on fire.
She escaped without injuries.
(----------------)

[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Turning to the Monday forecast--
Partly cloudy and breezy today, with highs only reaching the mid and upper 20s.
Tonight should stay partly cloudy, with lows cooling down into the lower teens.
As for the rest of the work week, expect variably cloudy skies and chilly temperatures, with another winter storm possibly arriving by Friday...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Cloudy/Winds NW 15/25-29/Partly Cloudy/Very Cold/10-15;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[8Fatal-Wreck]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-4]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
At least four people are dead and dozens of others injured after a massive accident on Interstate-81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]
It happened yesterday morning just after 8 on the Buffalo Creek Bridge in Rockbridge County. Officials dug through the debris of crushed vehicles for hours searching for signs of life. An Arlington resident who was driving back from Los Angeles was one of the few who escaped injury.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=09:14:16]
[IN Q=I DROVE TWO DAYS]
((OSCAR ORALLANIN/VICTIM; I DROVE TWO DAYS AND NOTHING.....JUST A COUPLE OF MORE.))
[SUPER=01-Oscar Orallanin/Victim;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=COUPLE OF MORE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The identities of the crash victims have not been released, as investigators try to notify their next of kin. Northbound traffic was re-routed for the majority of the day.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL SCREEN] One northbound lane was reopened late last night.
V-Dot says to expect alternating lane closures today as wreckage is cleared from the highway.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE V-Dot Number]
And to get more information on road conditions across the Commonwealth, you can call V-Dot at 1-800-367-ROAD.
(-------------)

[8S-Wythe-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#99-06 00:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It was a night without heat for many folks in Wytheville, after a natural gas explosion lit up the evening sky.
Crews worked late into the night, going house-to-house-- trying to get customers back on line.
Teresa Hamilton reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Wythe County]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kendra Eastwood/Wytheville Fire Fighter; :24 quick!!]
[SUPER=01-Donnie Widner/Ivanhoe Fire Fighter; :31]
[SUPER=01-Ikey Davidson/Wytheville Deputy Fire Chief; 1:01]
[SUPER=01-Jody Mitchell/East Tennessee Natural Gas Co.; 1:12]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Wythe Co.]
((
Wythe County fire fighters hope they're never face to face with a blaze quite like this one.
The explosion sent flames at least 300- feet into the air.
Yet it wasn't the flames--rather the heat that eventually caused a nearby house and motorcycle shop to catch fire.
A videocamera inside a Wytheville police car captured the images. [NAT SOUND 5:26:22:03]
(/////SOT/////)
[2:21:18]
[SOT]
[IN Q=I've ]
((KENDRA EASTWOOD/FIRE FIGHTER:I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THE HEAT WAS INTENSE? YES, IT MELTED THE STICKER ON MY HELMET. )) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=my helmet.]
(/////SOT/////)
[2:22:36]
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was]
((DONNIE WIDNER/IVANHOE FIRE FIGHTER: IT WAS REAL BRIGHT, LIKE DAY LIGHT, YOU COULD SEE IT, I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS, YOU COULD SEE IT 10- MILES DOWN THE ROAD. )) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=down the road.] It would take fire fighters several hours to gain the upper hand.

That's because, before water could do any good, they had to first stop the supply of gas that was fueling the blaze.

Gas company officials were able to do this by closing off valves some 30- miles, in both directions, to lower the gas pressure.
This allowed the fire to die down enough to go in and turn off the valves at the site.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It died ]
((IKEY DAVIDSON /DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF: IT DIED DOWN A LOT... BURNING MOSTLY THE GAS OUT OF THE LINES BUT IT WAS STILL REAL HOT, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS YOU COULD SEE THE SMOKE COMING OFF THE BACK OF HIS COAT. )) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=his coat.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=How scared]
((HOW SCARED WERE YOU? JODY MITCHELL/EAST TENNESSEE GAS CO.:OH, NOT AT ALL, HADN'T DONE IT BEFORE BUT I WAS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WIT THEM AND WHAT THEY KNEW THEY WERE DOING AND THEY PUT UP A BLANKET OF WATER FOR US. )) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=for us.]
[TAKE SU]
At around 10 AM-- the fires were nearly out-- and those here at the scene could begin cleaning up and trying to figure out what happened. [END SU]
Two fire fighters received minor injuries--
Which those on the scene say was a miracle-- considering the enormity of the situation they were called to deal with. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Wytheville. ))
(--------------)

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a look now at your Monday forecast.. Expect partly cloudy skies today, with northwesterly winds keeping high temperatures in the upper 20s.
Staying partly cloudy and very cold overnight, with lows falling to around 10 degrees. The extended forecast doesn't really warm up much until the end of the week...when another winter storm could hit the area...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset] [SUPER=314-Partly Cloudy/Winds NW 15/25-29/Partly Cloudy/Very Cold/10-15;]