A Thursday morning commute on Interstate 64 took a dramatic turn when a tractor-trailer collided with an overhead traffic sign, causing a significant disruption in Henrico County, Va., according to Virginia State Police. The incident occurred around 9:35 a.m., leaving all westbound lanes closed for over an hour.
The crash took place at mile marker 200 when the raised bed of the tractor-trailer, driven by Richard D. Houston Jr., 62, of Lorton, Va., struck the overhead sign. The impact was so severe that the bed of the truck detached from the cab and remained upright against the damaged sign.
Authorities worked quickly to clear the scene, removing the bed of the truck from the sign around 11 a.m. All lanes were reopened after being closed for about an hour and a half.
Miraculously, Houston was not injured in the crash. However, he has been charged with reckless driving, according to police. The incident remains under investigation.
This crash caused significant delays for commuters in the region, particularly as Henrico County neighbors Richmond, Va., and serves as a major thoroughfare for drivers heading westbound.
Local police and emergency response teams were praised for their swift action in clearing the scene and reopening traffic lanes.
