All lanes of Interstate 81 in Botetourt County
are now open, after Thursday’s tractor-trailer accidents at mile marker 167 that
claimed one life and resulted in a hazardous materials spill. All lanes reopened to traffic before 9:30 p.m.
Hazmat crews spent most of the day Thursday cleaning up a spill of a poisonous
chemical Thioglycol, which is used in manufacturing.
The driver of the northbound tractor-trailer that wrecked and spilled the
chemical, 51-year-old Wayne Kratzer, died following the accident while
being transported to Roanoke
Memorial Hospital.
