RICHMOND, Va. – Despite increasing temperatures across much of the state, Virginia State Police are still asking Virginians to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible, especially overnight.
As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, state police are on scene of 37 traffic crashes statewide and responding to an additional nine disabled vehicles across the Commonwealth.
Since midnight Monday through 2 p.m. state troopers and supervisors have responded to 538 traffic crashes and 347 disabled vehicles across the Commonwealth.
At this time there has been only one reported traffic fatality, which occurred Monday morning.
A 1999 Chevrolet Suburban was traveling west on Crest Hill Road in Fauquier County near Ada Road, when it crossed the centerline and struck head-on an eastbound snow plow.
The driver of the SUV, Steven H. Gibbs, 63, of Linden, Va., died at the scene. The driver of the snow plow was not injured in the crash. Speed and slick road conditions were factors in the crash, which remains under investigation at this time.
The worst area for crashes, with 126 so far, has been in the Chesapeake division — Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Eastern Shore, Williamsburg, Franklin and Emporia.
Over a 14-hour period in Richmond, police responded to 111 traffic crashes and 43 disabled vehicles.
There have been 70 crashes in the Fairfax division – Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax.
There have been 68 crashes and 64 disabled vehicles in the Salem area, which includes Lexington, Clifton Forge, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Bedford, Martinsville and Danville.
In the Culpeper area, there have been 66 traffic crashes and 31 disabled vehicles.
In the Appomattox area -- Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Staunton, Lynchburg, South Boston and South Hill – there were 46 traffic crashes and 29 disabled vehicles.
In Wytheville, Dublin, Galax, Bristol, Vansant, and Wise there have been 51 traffic crashes and 77 disabled vehicles.
Police asked drivers not to call 911 or #77 to find out about road conditions. These phone lines must remain clear for real emergencies. Call 511 for road conditions or click on http://www.511virginia.org.
Police asked people who have to travel, to please keep these safety tips in mind:
- Clear off all snow from your vehicle – windows, roof, trunk and lights
- Add extra time to reach travel destination
- Slow speed for road conditions
- Increase driving distances between vehicles for increased stopping distance
- Buckle up and don’t drive distracted
- MOVE OVER for all stopped emergency vehicles, highway vehicles and tow trucks.
