Tanya D. Mann, 56, killed, Philip O. Emiabata, 53, suffers minor injuries, taken to hospital, after his tractor-trailed overturns on I-81 near Wytheville, and is then struck by another vehicle.

Two individuals were killed and two other individuals were injured in a series of traffic crashes on Interstate 81 near the 60 mile marker in Wythe County Tuesday morning (April 1, 2014).

At 3:23 a.m., Virginia State Police Trooper G.A. Purvis was called to the scene of an overturned tractor-trailer on I-81. The tractor-trailer, which was loaded with laundry detergent, was traveling north on I-81 when it ran off the left side of the road. The tractor-trailer overturned onto its side coming to rest across the median and left southbound lane of I-81. Its driver, Philip O. Emiabata, 53, of Pflugerville, Texas, suffered minor injuries. He was transported to Wythe County Community Hospital for treatment. Emiabata has been charged with reckless driving.

Moments after the first crash, a 2000 Lexus SUV traveling south on I-81 struck the overturned tractor-trailer. The driver, Tanya D. Mann, 56, of Zirconia, N.C., died en-route to the hospital.