MONTGOMERY CO. – Four people died Tuesday, May 30 after their SUV collided with a tractor trailer on Interstate 81.
Virginia State Police is investigating the two-vehicle crash, which occurred at 3:30 a.m. on the northbound side of Interstate 81, at the 120.3-mile marker in Montgomery County.
According to the VSP, “a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was pulling a U-Haul trailer traveling north on Interstate 81, when the vehicle lost control and spun around, coming to rest facing southbound in the northbound travel lanes. The Chevrolet was then struck by a northbound Freightliner tractor trailer.”
The Chevrolet was driven by Douangpee Amnatkeo, 54, of Shippensburg, Pa. Amnatkeo was not wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. There were three passengers in the Chevrolet. Monthy Matnopaseuth, 39, of Reading, Pa., and Ericssan Kathpratoum, 13, Shippensburg, Pa., died at the scene. The third passenger, Samiane Kothpratoum, 37 of Shippensburg, Pa., was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital by helicopter, where he later died.
None of the passengers were wearing their seatbelts. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.
The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team and Motor Carrier Team assisted with the crash, which remains under investigation.
The day before the fatal crash, on Monday, May 29, the same area of Interstate 81, mile marker 120, was the site of four crashes that blocked Interstate 81 northbound for hours, according to Virginia State Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Richard Garletts, who said there were “multiple tractor trailers and cars involved.” The crash involved 20 vehicles, and VDOT set up a detour at the 118 to route traffic around the crashes.
News Messenger staff report
