Weather

Photos Show Aftermath Of Virginia Snowstorm's Effects On Roads

A snowstorm that turned highways to ice caused nearly 600 traffic accidents and left drivers stranded for nearly 24 hours on Interstate 95.

Scott Anderson's profile picture
Scott Anderson, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
|
Cars and trucks are stranded on sections of Interstate 95 on Tuesday near Quantico, Virginia. Nearly 48 miles of the interstate were closed due to ice and snow.
Cars and trucks are stranded on sections of Interstate 95 on Tuesday near Quantico, Virginia. Nearly 48 miles of the interstate were closed due to ice and snow. (Steve Helber/AP)

ACROSS VIRGINIA — State officials said a combination of unusually heavy snowfall, plunging temperatures and a major traffic accident led to disastrous conditions along a stretch of Interstate 95 in Virginia and other highways.

The Associated Press reported that Virginia saw more than 11 inches of snow, leading to about 600 traffic accidents, including a crash with six tractor-trailers, which caused an epic standstill on I-95. No injuries were reported in the crash.

Due to the crash, lanes in both directions of I-95 became clogged along an approximately 40-mile stretch between Richmond and Washington, D.C., Monday into Tuesday.

Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Drivers sent out pleas for help on social media about running out of fuel, food and water along that stretch of I-95.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told The Associated Press said the issue facing snowplow crews was the difficulty of getting workers and equipment through the snow and ice to where they needed to be.

Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Northam went on to explain the winter weather began with rain, which washed away all of the road treatments used to prevent ice buildup along roads.

Related: I-95 Shutdown: All Drivers Escape Road After 20+ Hours, Plows Out

Here are some images as workers cleared Virginia roadways.

Snowplows push snow to the side of northbound Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County on Tuesday. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on Monday after a winter storm snarled traffic in Virginia and left some drivers stuck in place for nearly 24 hours in freezing temperatures along an impassable stretch of Interstate 95 south of the nation's capital. (Tristan Lorei/AP Photo)
Kiara Davis (left) and Aja Brown walk up the southbound Interstate 95 on-ramp toward Route 234 in Dumfries on Tuesday. The two brought a cooler with beverages and snacks for anyone they may have found stranded on the highway. Hundreds of motorists waited desperately for help Tuesday after a winter storm snarled traffic in Virginia and left some drivers stranded for nearly 24 hours in freezing temperatures. (Peter Cihelka/The Free Lance-Star via AP)

Vehicles remain stranded on southbound Interstate 95 in Dumfries on Tuesday. Hundreds of motorists waited desperately for help Tuesday after a winter storm snarled traffic in Virginia and left some drivers stranded for nearly 24 hours in freezing temperatures. (Peter Cihelka/The Free Lance-Star via AP)
A snowplow pushes snow to the side of northbound Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County on Tuesday. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on Monday, after a winter storm snarled traffic in Virginia and left some drivers stuck in place for nearly 24 hours in freezing temperatures. (Tristan Lorei/AP)
A tow truck pulls a semi-tractor off of southbound I-95 and onto Route 234 in Dumfries, Va., on Tuesday. (Peter Cihelka/The Free Lance-Star via AP)
Motorists sit stranded on Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, Va., on Tuesday. Hundreds of motorists were stranded all night in snow and freezing temperatures along a 50-mile stretch of the interstate after a crash involving six tractor-trailers in Virginia, and authorities struggled Tuesday to reach them. (WJLA via AP)
Drivers wait for the traffic to be cleared as cars and trucks are stranded on sections of Interstate 95 Tuesday in Carmel Church, Va. Close to 48 miles of the interstate were closed due to ice and snow. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Cars and trucks are stranded on sections of Interstate 95 on Tuesday in Carmel Church, Va. Close to 48 miles of the interstate were closed due to ice and snow. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
This image from the Twitter account of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) shows the view from his car along Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, Va., on Tuesday. Kaine tweeted that he has been stuck in traffic on the highway for 19 hours. (Office of Sen. Tim Kaine via AP)
Cars and trucks are stranded on sections of Interstate 95 on Tuesday near Quantico, Va. Close to 48 miles of the interstate were closed due to ice and snow. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Fredericksburg