A 2020 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, a 2013 Chevy Traverse and a Subaru Outback were all stopped in traffic in the right lane on I-81 North at around 3:24 p.m. when a 2020 Freighliner tractor-trailer rear-ended the Subaru, according to Virginia State Police.
Authorities said the Chevy and the Subaru were then crushed in between the two tractor-trailers.
Kandy Poarch, 47, or Emporia was driving the Chevy and died at the scene, according to police. Authorities said a man was also flown by helicopter to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Authorities identify woman who died in Roanoke County I-81 tractor-trailer crash
Because the bottom of a truck is higher than the bumper of passenger vehicles, when there is a collision the smaller vehicle easily slides under the truck and the first point of impact is the windshield. Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes —front, side, and rear — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.
See Underride Crash Memorials posted here and at #STOPunderrides Tweets. To add photos or more information on this story or to add other underride crashes to be remembered, send an email to underridemap@gmail.com. Please use this Interactive Underride Crash Map Crash Location Input Form to provide us with accurate information . (Note: the map is currently not online; but we would keep the information for future updating and to aid in underride advocacy efforts.)
Support improving Underride Protection on trailers: Contact your legislators with this User-Friendly TAKE ACTION online tool.
Please sign this petition: Congress, Act Now To End Deadly Truck Underrides.
Note: In order to raise awareness and preserve the memories of underride victims — precious ones gone too soon — I have been writing memorial posts on what appear to me to be underride crashes. I am not a crash reconstructionist, and I do not have all the facts on these crashes; but I think that underride should be investigated as a potential factor in truck crash injuries and deaths.
