YORK COUNTY — Three people were confirmed dead after an early-morning two-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer and a bus near mile marker 241 on eastbound Interstate 64 in York County, Virginia State Police reported.
Update: All eastbound lanes of 64 are open as of 11:23 a.m. Friday.
Virginia State Police (VSP) said it was called to the scene at approximately 1:38 a.m.
So far, the investigation has revealed that the passenger bus, traveling in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64, merged into the tractor-trailer’s path. Police said the impact of the crash caused the tractor-trailer to run off the left side of the interstate and continue into the median where it struck an embankment.
VSP said the driver of the tractor-trailer was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver and 20 passengers aboard the bus were all transported to area hospitals for treatment of minor to non-life-threatening injuries. Three additional bus passengers — two adult males and an adult female — died at the scene and were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for autopsy, examination and positive identification.
UPDATE — The victims have been identified as 25-year-old Xavier Raquan Evans of Norfolk, 19-year-old Montia Bouie of Chesapeake, and 21-year-old Johntae Kaalib Russel of Norfolk. None of the victims were the driver of either vehicle, and none were wearing seatbelts, according to police. Alcohol and speed were contributing factors.
VSP said the Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Safety Team and Virginia State Police Chesapeake Division Crash Reconstruction Team were called to the scene to assist in the investigation. Two lanes were blocked on the eastbound side of I-64 and one lane on the westbound side. VDOT assisted with rerouting and traffic control.
UPDATE — Police said further details of the investigation will be provided later this week after consultation with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also has an investigation team working with the Virginia State Police on the investigation.
