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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 22, 1995                   TAG: 9507240073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CAR SLIDES INTO TRUCK'S PATH IN RAIN

Traffic on Interstate 81, near exit 168 at Arcadia, came to a standstill for an hour and a half Friday evening when a tractor-trailer ripped a car in half after the car's driver lost control on the rain-slicked road.

The driver of the car, David Stone, 23, of Blacksburg, was taken to a hospital for observation, but was not seriously injured, according to State Trooper G. McMurray.

Stone was charged with reckless driving for failing to maintain control of his vehicle.

William Coada, 61, of Ronda, N.C., was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital and released.

McMurray said Stone was driving north on I-81 when his car hydroplaned.

``It was raining hard at the time,'' McMurray said.

The car crossed the median, spun around and entered the southbound lane backwards.

The tractor-trailer hit the car and ripped ``everything from the driver's seat back'' off the car, McMurray said.

Coada's tractor-trailer ignited upon impact with Stone's car and was engulfed when emergency workers arrived.

McMurray said both southbound lanes of I-81 were closed from about 6:45 p.m until 8:15, when one lane was opened. Traffic was backed up for about eight miles.

Traffic was diverted onto U.S. 11.

One lane was expected to remain closed until this morning so the tractor-trailer's load of paper could be hauled away.

by CNB