Hampton Bears the Brunt of Accidents with Injuries as Snow Hits Tidewater

Snow storms are starting to become a normal part of winter in Hampton Roads. It snowed last week. It snowed on Tuesday and the “knockout round” is expected tonight and into Wednesday.

Familiarity with the conditions should make the roads safer but Virginia drivers are continuing to make numerous mistakes and failing to drive appropriately for the conditions. Tuesday evening’s commute led to numerous accidents on slippery roads.

Virginia State Police reported a large volume of calls for service as the snow began to fall Tuesday afternoon and evening. In Hampton Roads alone, troopers responded to 174 traffic crashes and 53 disabled vehicles between 4 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Most of those incidents involved only damaged vehicles, but 14 accidents involved injuries.

It’s rather alarming that despite all of the warnings about snowy conditions, people are continuing to drive badly. If you have been injured by a driver who lost control in the snow in Hampton Roads, you should call our Virginia car accident injury lawyers.

The city of Hampton saw the highest number of injury accidents. In Hampton up until 7 p.m. police officers assisted with 57 crashes, seven of which involved injury, with nine disabled vehicles.

VDOT said in a press release all HOV reversible lanes on I-64 were closed Tuesday evening. However, interstates and other roads saw numerous accidents and long delays for commuters. According to WAVY.com these were the worst affected cities:

NEWPORT NEWS:

A disabled vehicle on southbound I-664 in Newport News meant all lanes heading into the Monitor Merrimack Memorial Bridge-Tunnel closed at 5:34 p.m. ensuring a hellish commute. They re-opened later in the evening.

NORFOLK:

All lanes of traffic on I-64 West before the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel shut down, as of 5:10 p.m. Traffic was delayed for several hours.

Police reported a crash on I-64 East close to mile marker 284 that “caused major traffic delays in Norfolk around 4 p.m.” Delays spanned several miles. There was also a vehicle fire reported in the westbound lanes of I-64. Two travel lanes were closed at 5 p.m.

HAMPTON:

Hampton police said they responded to “continuous” crashes throughout the city, due to slippery roads.

Two vehicles ran into a ditch along Magruder Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon while a multi-vehicle crash closed southbound Powhatan Parkway, where the road intersects with I-64.

Several miles of traffic congestion was reported on I-64 East before the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. All lanes were closed for a while.

YORK COUNTY:

Police reported a car wreck on I-64 East in York County closed all travel lanes near mile marker 240, as of 5 p.m. After the situation cleared VDOT reported that ice and snow created hazardous road conditions in York County.

More snow misery is expected today as a major weather system moves into the area tonight, dumping more snow on Hampton Roads. “On Wednesday, we will brine roads during the day in anticipation of more than a half-inch of snow arriving on Wednesday into Thursday. Trucks will be mobilized as well,” said VDOT spokeswoman Paula Miller.

Drivers should take care in the condition. Our Norfolk injury lawyers have published seven winter weather driving tips. If you have been hurt by a driver who lost control in the snow and ice, call Cooper Hurley at 757.455.0077 for a free injury consultation.