FREDERICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA — Two truck drivers are dead after a car entered Interstate 81 southbound near Exit 310 in Frederick County on the night of September 10 without yielding, triggering a chain reaction that sent one tractor-trailer through the median and into a northbound truck carrying oxygen tanks — which caught fire and exploded, sending what witnesses described as loud booms and sparks into the night sky.
Virginia State Police identified the victims as Russell R. Haskins, 64, of Altavista, Virginia, who was driving the first tractor-trailer and died at the scene, and Jeffrey J. Hudnell, 52, of Philadelphia, who was driving the truck carrying the oxygen tanks and died after being transported to a hospital.
The preliminary investigation found that Mario A. Saldivar-Romaro of Rockingham, Virginia, was driving a passenger car when he entered southbound I-81 at the ramp and failed to yield, crossing two lanes before striking Haskins’ tractor-trailer. The force of the impact sent the big rig off the interstate and through the median into northbound traffic where it struck Hudnell’s truck. The collision sparked a fire and the oxygen tanks exploded. The explosion damaged a Frederick County Sheriff’s vehicle and a civilian vehicle in a parking lot east of the interstate. The deputy whose vehicle was damaged was not hurt. Saldivar-Romaro was not injured.
Saldivar-Romaro was charged with reckless driving. Additional charges are possible following consultation with the Frederick County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
A driver who witnessed the aftermath captured video of the scene showing heavy flames and thick black smoke over the interstate, with loud explosions sending large sparks into the sky. On Friday afternoon crews worked to remove the wreckage using a towing crane while VDEM hazmat crews inspected liquids near the crash site.
“Try to avoid it. Because I-81, to me, it’s like dangerous. You don’t know what’s going to happen, something like this,” said witness Ashley Huff of West Virginia. “It’s sad that the driver passed. I mean, I just can’t believe it happened. But I feel sorry for the families.”
The crash closed I-81 overnight. Two northbound lanes remained closed as of 9:30 a.m. Friday. The investigation is ongoing.
Interviews courtesy of local media.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
