ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 TAG: 9512290073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
A Hillsville man died Thursday when he was thrown from his tractor trailer after trying to avoid hitting a car on Interstate 81 in Montgomery County.
State Police Trooper Tony Henderson said a 59-year-old man was driving in the left lane of northbound I-81, near the first Radford exit, when he tried to change lanes about 3:20 p.m.
The truck driver veered back into the left lane to avoid hitting a car driven by Judson T. Parsons, 77, of Richmond. The tractor trailer jackknifed and the end of the trailer hit Parsons' car, Henderson said.
The tractor trailer ran off the right side of the road and into an embankment. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. He died at the scene, Henderson said.
Henderson would not release the trucker's name until relatives have been notified.
Parsons' car was sent spinning by the trailer and ran off the left side of the road into an embankment. Henderson said he did not know whether Parsons or his wife were wearing seat belts.
Parsons was listed in stable condition at Radford Community Hospital, according to a nursing supervisor. His wife's name and her medical condition were unavailable.
One northbound lane of I-81 was opened 20 minutes after the accident, Henderson said. The remaining lane was opened an hour and a half later. Traffic was backed up for about three miles during the wait.
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB