Virginia State Police are investigating three recent fatal crashes on Interstate 81 in Frederick and Shenandoah counties, including two that occurred July 2.
The first crash occurred June 23, 2026, at 9:49 a.m. on I-81 northbound at the 309-mile marker in Frederick County.
According to Virginia State Police, a tractor-trailer was traveling southbound on I-81 when it ran off the interstate, crossed through the median and entered the northbound lanes. The tractor-trailer struck a second tractor-trailer head-on, causing a fire. The crash also forced both vehicles into a third tractor-trailer that was traveling northbound.
A northbound sedan swerved to avoid the crash and struck the guardrail.
The driver of the first tractor-trailer, which had been traveling southbound, died at the scene. The driver of the second tractor-trailer suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver of the third tractor-trailer was not injured.
State Police said identification of the driver who died is pending notification of next of kin.
A second fatal crash occurred July 2, 2026, at approximately 3:18 a.m. on I-81 northbound at the 286-mile marker in Shenandoah County.
The preliminary investigation indicates a 2013 Honda Crosstour was stopped in the right travel lane, possibly after becoming disabled. The driver, Dennis L. Marshall, 78, of Willow Spring, North Carolina, got out of the vehicle and was standing near the front of the Honda when it was struck by a 2011 Freightliner tractor-trailer.
State Police said the Honda then struck Marshall, and the tractor-trailer struck a bridge barrier and overturned.
Marshall died at the scene. A passenger in the Honda, Barbara A. Marshall, 77, of Willow Spring, North Carolina, was injured and transported to an area hospital. The driver of the tractor-trailer, Jautar S. Dhot, 53, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, suffered minor injuries.
A third fatal crash occurred later that morning, July 2, 2026, at approximately 10:21 a.m. on I-81 northbound at the 318-mile marker in Frederick County.
According to the preliminary investigation, a 2002 Nissan SUV was traveling northbound on I-81 when it swerved to avoid an object in the road. The vehicle overcorrected, ran off the road, went down an embankment and struck a tree.
The driver, an adult female, died at the scene. State Police said her identification is pending notification of next of kin.
All three crashes remain under investigation by Virginia State Police.
Information from VSP releases. Edited by Dan McDermott.
