MD Tower Dies When Wrecker Crashes On VA's Interstate 81

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 63-year old Richard Anthony Woodward of Rosedale, MD. He died on Monday, Mar. 30.

Here's the Roanoke Times story:

Montgomery County -- A Maryland man was killed Monday afternoon when the truck he was driving crashed on Interstate 81 in Montgomery County, police said.

The crash happened just after 1 p.m. on northbound I-81 near mile marker 122, Virginia State Police Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said.

Richard Anthony Woodward, 63, of Rosedale, Md., apparently lost control of the 2001 Sterling rollback wrecker he was driving, Carpentieri said.

The truck went off the road into the median, and Woodward overcorrected and went off the right side of the road, where the truck struck the guardrail and overturned, Carpentieri said. Woodward was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected, Carpentieri said. He died at the scene.

Woodward was hauling a Mitsubishi sport utility vehicle on the rollback when he crashed, Carpentieri said. When the truck crashed, the SUV dangled over the guardrail, he said.

State police shut down the northbound lanes while they investigated the crash and removed the vehicles. Traffic backed up past Exit 114 into Christiansburg and was diverted off Exit 118 onto U.S. 460 north.

Both lanes had reopened by 4:30 p.m.