Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 13, 1992                   TAG: 9203130269
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

TRUCKS COLLIDE, BLOCKING I-81 TRAFFIC FOR 4 HOURS

Traffic was rerouted through Christiansburg.

The accident happened just before 6 a.m. about a half-mile south of Exit 118.

Southbound traffic was rerouted onto Roanoke Street and through downtown Christiansburg, then back to the interstate at Exit 120.

One southbound lane was reopened by 10 a.m.

State Trooper C.F. Eaton Jr. said William Copeland, of Tuscumbia, Ala., was driving a truck loaded with shredded aluminum.

Copeland's truck hit a Dixon Lumber truck that was being driven by Walter Coleman of Hillsville.

The lumber truck hit the guardrail, and its cab was hung up on the guardrail. Lumber and aluminum spilled onto the shoulder and the right lane.

Copeland and a female passenger were taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital where they were treated and released, police said.