FRANKLIN, Va. (WAVY) — A fiery crash involving four vehicles on Route 58 in Southampton County on Monday left two people dead.
According to Virginia State Police, the crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. on the eastbound lanes of Route 58 at Route 671.
511 Hampton Roads first reported about the crash near Armory Drive just after noon and said both directions of traffic were closed. The roadway was still closed as of 12:40 p.m.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a 2007 International tractor-trailer, 70-year-old Stephen McNeil, was traveling in the eastbound lanes at the posted speed limit, when he approached traffic and struck the rear of a 2017 Kenworth dump truck.
Upon collision, the tractor-trailer struck a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and the dump truck was pushed into another tractor-trailer.
Both the dump truck and the tractor-trailer, driven by McNeil, caught fire upon collision. State Police say McNeil, from Monroe, NC, died upon impact. His front seat passenger, 57-year-old Bobby Nicholson, also from Monroe, was ejected from the tractor-trailer and died upon impact.
The driver of the dump truck suffered non life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The driver of the Malibu suffered minor injuries while the driver of the other tractor-trailer involved did not suffer any injuries.
Officials say alcohol was not a contributing factor in the crash.
Photos sent in from a WAVY viewer show major flames and smoke.
There was also a crash around 6:50 a.m. on Route 58 eastbound near Pretlow Road between a box truck and van that left a person dead and two others injured.
Check back for updates on both crashes.