11/4/2013: I-81 shut down in both directions at Harrisonburg - UPDATED

Photo from Harrisonburg Electric Commission.

Monday afternoon around 3:00 a tractor-trailer ran off I-81 at Mile Marker 243 at Harrisonburg, taking down power lines and closing all lanes of the interstate, both northbound and southbound. Power lines were across the road and traffic was rerouted. Word from those living in the area was that Rt. 11, an alternate to I-81, was a parking lot. At 5:00, VDOT said the interstate would be closed another 3-4 hours.

With always-heavy I-81 traffic on top of local commuter traffic at the end of the work day, it's a mess in Harrisonburg. Avoid the area if at all possible. Travelers who had planned to make it further along the interstate may end up staying over at Harrisonburg hotels. More information can be found at NBC-29, WHSV TV-3, and WSVA radio.

UPDATE: I-81 reopened around 8:00 Monday evening.

Huge multi-car pile up on I-81 in Shenandoah County

There is a huge multi-car pile up in the southbound lanes of I-81 in Shenandoah County north of Harrisonburg. The area remains under a winter weather storm warning until 11:00 pm.

I-81 south closed between Harrisonburg and Staunton

A tractor-trailer accident has closed both southbound lanes of I-81 at Mt. Crawford's Exit 239 (between Harrisonburg and Staunton) in the Shenandoah Valley. Updates are available at WHSV TV-3 where they report traffic is backed up for more than a mile.

Fatal accident closes I-81 in Shenandoah County

I-81 southbound is closed this morning in the aftermath of a fatal accident last night that involved three tractor trailers and another vehicle. Reports are there have been three fatalities, according to the Northern Virginia Daily:

(Updated: 9:08 a.m.) WOODSTOCK - A portion of Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County between the Toms Brook and Woodstock exits will be closed for several more hours today due to a fiery crash late Monday night that killed three people.

The crash, which occurred before midnight, involved three tractor trailers and another vehicle, according to Mary T. Price, assistant Shenandoah County administrator.

"The Hazmat Team has the burning substance under control and are finishing extinguishing the fire... Wreckers have been contacted to remove the motor vehicle and tractor trailers and we expect this will take several hours," Price said in a press release.

At 9 a.m., Price reported that northbound lanes of Interstate 81 are now open to traffic.

Shenandoah County public schools are closed today due to the accident.

Fatal head-on collision closes I-81

Tractor-trailer crosses median and hits northbound van head-on

One northbound lane of I-81 has been reopened after last night's crash that had both lanes closed for hours. A southbound tractor-trailer crossed the median and collided head-on with a van heading north on the interstate.

The accident occurred near mile marker 245 in Harrisonburg. An eyewitness suggested the truck had been run off the road by another vehicle causing it to lose control.

One person is confirmed dead and three others have been airlifted to Charlottesville's UVA Hospital and Rockingham Memorial Hospital. WHSV TV-3 has more.

The eyewitness posted this on WHSV's website:

Posted by: Bill Location: Richmond on Feb 27, 2008 at 12:06 AM

I was behind this tractor trailer on 81 tonight and witnessed the entire accident. It was truly the most horrific thing I have ever seen. I feel for not only the families of the victims but also the truck driver. He was forced out of control by another driver and it is amazing that the truck driver was able to get the rig back on all wheels. When he swerved back to the left lane to avoid the other car he was fishtailing and tipped on only the wheels on his left side. He regained control but in doing so he oriented himself towards the median. For all of us in the car everything went into slow motion and we watched as the truck crossed the median. It seemed as though the van had no idea that the truck was coming towards it...it made no apparent moves to swirve or avoid the truck. The impact was nausiating and the van appeared to disintegrate as the truck went right through it. The sound of the impact was horrible. I will never forget what I saw tonight.

No other details are available at this time.

Update ... Shenandoah County truck accident closes I-81 northbound until 3 p.m.

Update: VDOT is reporting I-81 North may be closed until 3 p.m. today, December 14, 2007.

Both northbound lanes of I-81 near Woodstock and Strasburg in Shenandoah County have been closed due to a tanker truck accident and is expected to remain closed until noon today. The overturned tanker reportedly was carrying flammable liquid. Interstate travelers are being rerouted on a two-mile detour around the accident site.