ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160102
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
A New Jersey man died Sunday after he lost control of his tractor-trailer while speeding on Interstate 81 between the two Christiansburg exits, state police said.
Keith J. Baldwin, 38, of Tinton Falls, N.J., was driving north on I-81 when he apparently lost control of his tractor-trailer and crossed the median. State police said the tractor-trailer continued across the southbound lanes and crashed into an embankment. No other vehicles were involved.
Trooper R.C. Grubb estimated Baldwin was driving 80 to 85 mph. The trucker's box trailer was loaded with 18 spools of paper, each weighing 1,700 pounds. Grubb said it appears the paper shifted as Baldwin entered a slight turn and caused the trucker to lose control of the vehicle.
``Spools went everywhere,'' Grubb said. ``A couple went about 60 feet in the air.''
The impact of the crash catapulted Baldwin, who was not wearing a seat belt, from the tractor's cab, Grubb said.
Baldwin was flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital by helicopter about 6:30 p.m and died at 9 p.m., according to state police.
The wreck caused slight damage to the tractor and destroyed the box trailer, Grubb said. Baldwin picked up the paper in Alabama and was scheduled to deliver it to Richmond.
State police closed the southbound lanes of I-81 for about an hour and a half, and one northbound lane for about an hour, Grubb said.
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB