‘A train of traffic’: Tractor-trailer crash shuts down I-64 for hours in Henrico

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Traffic was backed up for hours in eastern Henrico County Thursday morning after a tractor-trailer driver crashed into a sign over Interstate 64 West.

The crash happened at 9:36 a.m., where I-64 meets with Interstate 295 in the Sandston area of Henrico.

“The bed of a tractor-trailer struck an overhead sign right in that area, the bed then separated from the cab of the tractor-trailer and remained upright, up against the sign,” Virginia State Police spokesperson Matt Demlein said. “It was removed from the sign around 11 a.m. this morning. There was nothing in the bed of the tractor-trailer.”

The incident closed I-64 West for hours, causing significant delays for drivers.

“I was in it for at least an hour,” said medical delivery driver Reggie Smith about the traffic. “I saw like a train of traffic going off the shoulder.”

Smith said the traffic was so bad that people started driving on the grass to get around, with some people even choosing to get out of their cars.

“People left their car somewhere behind and just started walking,” said Smith. “I’ve seen at least five people just walking.”

In response to the incident, traffic was diverted off exit 200 towards I-295 and multiple detours were monitored by police. No injuries were reported, but the driver, 62-year-old Richard Houston Junior of the Lorton area of Fairfax County, has been charged with reckless driving.

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