Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Injuries reported after a police pursuit resulted in a fiery crash that closed Interstate 85 in Petersburg, VA



Fiery crash closed Interstate 85; Witness saw police following truck
Posted 7:29 am, July 5, 2016, by Scott Wise, Updated at 09:37am, July 5, 2016



PETERSBURG, Va. -- A police pursuit resulted in a fiery crash that closed Interstate 85, near Interstate 95, in Petersburg Tuesday morning. The northbound left lane remained closed at 9:30 a.m., all other lanes have since reopened.

While the exact nature of the police pursuit it not yet known, witnessed said it involved multiple law enforcement vehicles.

"The truck had just passed me traveling northbound and was being followed by four police cars with lights flashing," witness Heather Rike said. "I could see in my rear view mirror the truck go off the left lane and hit the barrier, it immediately burst into flames."

Photos submitted to WTVR show what appears to be a burning vehicle on the side of the interstate. Police have not yet said if anyone was hurt in the crash.


Fiery incident on I-85. (PHOTO: Chad Conner)

Another image showed a plume of black smoke in the air as traffic was backed up for at least four miles on the interstate.


Incident closed I-85 in Petersburg (PHOTO: Susie Meanor)

This is a developing story. Anyone with additional information can submit a news tip here.