BERKELEY COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A series of collisions involving multiple vehicles shut down a section of Interstate 81 in Berkeley County early Tuesday morning, according to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded around 2:37 a.m. on May 13 to the area near the 4-mile marker, just south of the Inwood exit, after receiving reports of a crash.
Authorities say a BMW sedan with Pennsylvania plates was traveling southbound when it hydroplaned, struck a guardrail, and veered into the northbound lanes.
The car collided with the side of a tractor trailer before coming to a stop in the center lane. The driver and passenger were able to exit the vehicle.
Moments later, an SUV traveling northbound attempted to avoid the disabled BMW but collided with another tractor trailer. That tractor trailer struck the BMW and flipped onto its driver’s side.
A third tractor trailer then struck the overturned truck, sustaining damage to its driver’s side. Another SUV also ran over crash debris, resulting in a flat tire.
The crash forced the closure of the interstate for an extended period as emergency crews responded and cleared the scene.
No information has been released regarding injuries, the identities of those involved, or any possible charges.
The incident remains under investigation by Deputy Carroll. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office at 304-267-7000.
