AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Nearly two dozen people were injured in an accident involving a Silver Lining tour bus and tractor-trailer loaded with U.S. mail on I-64 east near the top of Afton Mountain.
Virginia State Police said they responded to a multi-vehicle crash on mile marker 100 near the Augusta and Nelson County line at 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
“A tractor-trailer was traveling east on I-64, when the driver lost control and the tractor-trailer overturned across the roadway,” VSP said. “A commercial bus traveling in the eastbound lane was unable to avoid the tractor-trailer and struck it.”
The impact of the crash split the tractor-trailer in half, VSP said.
During the time of the crash, the Silver lining tour bus had more than 20 passengers on board. The bus company is located in Troy, Virginia. 8News has reached out for information on the bus’ destination.
According to Virginia State Police, 15 people were taken to UVA Medical Center and 4 others were transported to Augusta Medical. The injuries range from minor to serious.
Both the drivers of the bus and tractor-trailer were among those transported to UVA Medical Center.
VSP said 44-year-old James Proffit of Suffolk — the tractor-trailer driver — is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.
The bus driver — 62-year-old Andrew L. Burruss of Keswick — is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
“There were at least seven other minor crashes that occurred in the eastbound lanes of I-64 immediately following the initial crash,” VSP said in an update. No one in those minor crashes sustained injuries.
Initial reports said it was a mass casualty accident, but according to VSP there are no confirmed fatalities.
Dozens of crews worked to clean the scene.
“Road conditions on Afton Mountain are slick and need to be treated by VDOT,” VSP advised.
VDOT treated the roads and all lanes opened in both directions around 9 a.m.
Virginia State Police said heavy fog and icy roads were to blame for the crash.
