30 Hour Delay on I-95
I-95 is the longest North-South highway in the U.S. For both personal and commercial traffic, it is considered one of the major transit routes in the country. On January 3rd, 2022, it became impassable in severe weather conditions and left hundreds of motorists stranded without access to fuel or supplies for nearly 30 hours.
The Incident
The I-95 incident occured on Monday morning (January 3, 2022) and quickly became a waking nightmare. It was a winter traffic scene no one wants to ever see when hundreds of drivers got stuck along Interstate 95 in Virginia for nearly 30 hours in the harsh, cold weather.
The National Weather Service had previously warned about the potential dangers that the forecasted blizzard could create for drivers. The situation became worse as the severe weather caused parts of the state to lose power, shutting down traffic cameras.
What Caused the I-95 Closure?
A blizzard caused semi-trailers to jackknife in snow and ice. This led to the blocking of entire sections of the interstate and started a chain reaction causing other vehicles on the highway to lose control. Soon, all lanes were blocked and drivers were unable to move forward or back up, resulting in traffic coming to a complete standstill for hours. The long delay added to widespread misery for travelers who were without access to food, water, or fuel.
Senator Among Those Blocked
Senator Tim Kaine was among the many people stranded on I-95. He tweeted about the incident, stating that he had been trapped for hours in what was typically a 2-hour drive between Richmond, Virginia and The Capitol in Washington D.C.
According to the senator, his office was in contact with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to figure out a way to help stranded motorists.
The State Response
By Monday, 3:30 pm, more than 2,000 calls had been made to Virginia State Troopers reporting stranded vehicles and accidents. VDOT announced that the agency was working on resolving the situation. Apart from clearing the semi-trailers, authorities were busy clearing snow and ice that was accumulated around them in an effort to reopen lanes and ensure that drivers can safely proceed to their destination.
Critique of the State Response
Governor Ralph Northam stated that his team had responded through the night, worked with local authorities to set up warm shelters, as well as sent messages to ensure that motorists get the help they needed.
People who were stuck on I-95 criticized the governor on social media, asking why the National Guard had not been deployed. Governor Northam responded by saying that he decided not to do so because there was enough manpower to deal with the situation but that the main challenge was bringing the necessary equipment and appropriate workers through the ice and snow to where they needed to be.
Why Was the I-95 Closure Such a Big Deal?
Obviously, the primary reason is that people were trapped in freezing temperatures for nearly 30 hours with no access to fuel, water, or food. Many motorists were returning from holiday vacations and had already been traveling for a while when they got stranded on I-95 and the severe weather conditions, lack of access to medicine, water, food, and the possibility of running out of fuel created a volatile situation.
The End of the Closure
The 50-mile closure of I-95 ended after nearly 30 hours of motorists’ despair. Luckily and according to authorities, no serious injuries were reported.
Hilton & Somer, LLC: Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys serving Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.
As is evident from the I-95 incident, not all road accidents are avoidable. If you were involved in a multi-vehicle jam or pileup, stranded on the road because of someone else’s negligence, or were part of any other type of motor vehicle accident, know that you have rights. Reach out to our experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys for a free consultation today. The attorneys at Hilton & Somer, LLC work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that attorney fees are contingent on any monetary recovery we obtain on your behalf. Call us today (703) 560-0700.
References
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/04/us/i-95-closed-snowstorm-winter.html
