MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — There was a major slowdown of traffic on Interstate 81 in Berkeley County Monday morning after a multi-vehicle pileup.
The wreck occurred at 3:30 a.m. following a collision involving five-vehicle in the northbound lanes near the Tennessee Avenue exit.
Berkeley County sheriff deputies responded and found that a total of three tractors-trailers, 1 Ford Escape, and 1 RAM Pickup with an attached trailer, were involved in the accident.
Officers found that the driver of the Ford Escape was in critical condition and being extricated from her vehicle by Fire and EMS personnel. The collision spanned multiple lanes and resulted in I-81 being shut down for several hours while the vehicles were removed and the roadway cleaned and repaired.
The crash occurred when a tractor-trailer in the far right lane failed to notice that traffic was coming to a stop due to road work. That vehicle then rear ended the Ford Escape, which was pushed into the middle lane, where it struck the rear of a second tractor-trailer.
The first tractor-trailer continued forward and rear ended the trailer attached to the RAM pickup which was pushed forward into a third tractor-trailer.
The driver of Escape was taken into emergency surgery at Berkeley Medical Center to be stabilized and then transported to Ruby Memorial by air. Her condition remains critical at this time.
The driver of the RAM pickup was seen at Berkeley Medical Center as a precaution but was released shortly after.
The first tractor-trailer that struck the Ford Escape was found at fault due to on scene findings and interviews that were completed. Charges will be filed once the investigation is complete.