Three Dead in Smyth County

Three men were killed after a multi vehicle accident Wednesday on Interstate 81 near mile marker 54 in Smyth County.
A tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline swerved to avoid vehicles on the right shoulder and overturned, sliding into a pickup and a truck, resulting in a fiery crash.
The drivers of all three vehicles died, including the driver of the tanker truck, 48-year-old Frank Skeens Jr. of Castlewood and the driver of the pickup, 30-year-old Trevor Blankenship of Lebanon. The identity of the other driver killed has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.
The Virginia State Police say the cause of the crash remains under investigation.