ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 1996 TAG: 9611250193
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JON CAWLEY
A three-car accident on Interstate 81 Saturday afternoon did not result in life-threatening injuries but snarled already heavy traffic leaving the Virginia Tech football game, creating a six-mile backup.
About 4:45 p.m., a car ran off the side of the road and struck a guardrail, about one mile south of the Wildwood road exit in Salem, Virginia State Police Trooper R.J. Carpentieri said. Information concerning that vehicle and its passengers was not available Saturday night.
A minivan, containing six members of a Botetourt County family returning from the game, swerved to avoid the car and was struck in the rear by an Arctic Express Inc. tractor-trailer, Carpentieri said.
Four people in the minivan were injured and transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. James W. Wickham, 67, suffered whiplash and complications from a heart condition. Evelyn Wickham, 64, was cut over one eye. An unidentified juvenile suffered a seizure. The injuries of Christopher Kessler, 17, were unavailable, Carpentieri said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, John W. Smith, 24, of Wellsville, Ohio, was charged with following too close after totaling the minivan, Carpentieri said.
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