Automobile Accidents on Interstate 64 (I-64) and Its Auxiliary Highways (I-264, I-464, I-564, I-664) in Virginia
Statistics on I-64 Car Crashes and What to Do if You are Hurt While Traveling on this Highway
First opened in the 1950s, I-64 is Virginia’s key east-west interstate passageway covering more than 300 miles from the rural and mountainous areas near the West Virginia border to the major metropolitan areas of Richmond and Hampton Roads.
Millions of commuters use I-64 to get to work or their vacation destination.
In addition, millions of trucks carry billions of dollars in goods on this same highway.
This frequent usage results in many motor vehicle accidents on Interstate 64.
Indeed, the September 2021 Final Report on the Interstate 64/664 Corridor Improvement Plan stated there had been approximately 21,000 crashes over five years.
This article gives information about crash statistics on I-64 in Virginia, including frequent accident zones and what to do if you are involved in a collision.
We hope you stay safe.
But if you have questions about car accident laws in Virginia or need help negotiating a top-dollar personal injury settlement, call us: at (804) 251-1620 or (757) 810-5614. Our firm is ready to resolve your claim.
I-64 Route Information: Where Does Interstate 64 Begin and End?
Interstate 64 is a major highway that travels east to west in the Eastern United States.
In the west, I-64 starts and ends near St. Louis, Missouri, in Wentzville, MO, to be exact.
And in the east, I-64 begins and ends in Chesapeake, Virginia, at an interchange with Interstate 264 and Interstate 664.
Between Wentzville and Chesapeake, Interstate 64 covers more than 950 miles in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia.
What Major Cities Does I-64 Connect?
Interstate 64 connects several major metropolitan areas, including:
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Charleston, West Virginia
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Richmond, Virginia
- Hampton Roads, Virginia (Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Portsmouth)
I-64 in Virginia
I-64 and its spur routes serve both rural and urban areas in Virginia.
In the western part of the state, Interstate 64 runs through the towns and cities of Clifton Forge, Charlottesville, Covington, Lexington, Staunton, and Waynesboro.
The terrain that I-64 crosses in this area is often mountainous, steep, and winding, with frequent snow and ice on the road in the winter. Indeed, I-64 crosses the barriers of the Allegheny Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, including North Mountain and Afton Mountain.
In the central and eastern parts of the state, I-64 runs through the highly populated counties and cities of Richmond, Henrico, New Kent, Williamsburg, James City, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth.
Though the land is flatter here, I-64 must cross waterway barriers in this area. For example, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel crosses Hampton Roads, and a drawbridge crosses the South Branch of the Elizabeth River and the Intracoastal Waterway in Chesapeake. And delays are common near these water crossings.
Interstate 64 and its branches serve several military installations in Virginia (Naval Station Norfolk, Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Fort Eustis in Newport News, Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Camp Perry in Williamsburg, and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown).
In addition, I-64 and its spur routes help people get to airports (Richmond International Airport, Williamsburg-Newport News International Airport, and Norfolk International Airport) and shipyards and marine terminals (Newport News Shipbuilding – Huntington Ingalls Industries and the Port of Virginia and its marine terminals in Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth).
Does Virginia’s I-64 Have Auxiliary Interstate Highways (Beltways, Spurs, or Bypasses)?
Yes.
Auxiliary Interstate highways include:
- Spur routes connecting to the parent roadway at one end,
- Bypass roads connecting to the parent highway at both ends, and
- Beltway roads intersecting the parent route at two locations
Four auxiliary Interstate Highways serve I-64 in Virginia, all of which are in Hampton Roads:
- Interstate 264: I-264 runs through South Hampton Roads and connects the central business districts in Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. This highway includes the Downtown Tunnel, which crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and links Portsmouth to Norfolk, and the Berkley Bridge, which crosses the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River. In addition, I-264 carries traffic to the resort beaches on the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach.
- Interstate 464: I-464 is a connector route linking I-64, U.S. Route 17, and State Route 168 in Chesapeake with Interstate 264. At its southern end, I-464 connects with highways heading toward North Carolina and the Outer Banks.
- Interstate 564: I-564, also known as Admiral Taussig Boulevard, is the main access roadway to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. In addition, Interstate 564 links I-64 with the Wards Corner neighborhood of Norfolk and the Norfolk International Terminals.
- Interstate 664: I-664 forms the west side of the Hampton Roads Beltway, a highway circling Hampton Roads. Interstate 664, which includes the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel, serves Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, and Chesapeake.
I-64’s Major Intersections and Interchanges in Virginia
I-64’s major junctions in Virginia include:
- Greenbrier Parkway in Virginia Beach
- Indian River Rd in Virginia Beach
- I-81 near Lexington
- I-95 through the center of Richmond
- I-195 in Richmond
- I-264 in Norfolk
- I-295 near Short Pump
- I-295 near Seven Pines (Sandston)
- I-464 in Virginia Beach
- I-564 in Norfolk
- I-664 in Hampton
- Parham Road in Henrico County
- State Route 154 near Covington
- State Route 165 in Norfolk
- State Route 168 in Chesapeake
- State Route 173 in Newport News
- State Route 285 near Fishersville
- State Route 623 near Lexington
- U.S. Route 1 in Richmond
- U.S. Route 13 in Chesapeake
- U.S. Route 15 near Zion Crossroads
- U.S. Route 17 in multiple locations, including Chesapeake and Newport News
- U.S. Route 29 near Charlottesville
- U.S Route 33 (Staples Mill Rd) in Henrico County
- U.S. Route 60 near the West Virginia state line, Richmond, and Hampton Roads
- U.S. Route 220 near Covington
- U.S. Route 250 in Albemarle County and near Short Pump
- U.S. Route 258 in Hampton
- U.S. Route 301 in Richmond
- U.S. Route 340 in Waynesboro
- U.S. Route 360 in Richmond
- U.S. Route 460 in Norfolk
- U.S. Route 522 in Louisa County
- Victory Boulevard in Newport News
- Virginia State Route 199 in James City County (near Williamsburg)
Average Daily Traffic Volumes on Interstate 64 in Virginia
Generally, traffic volume on I-64 varies significantly depending on which roadway segments you analyze.
For example, I-64 from Richmond into Hampton Roads is usually more congested than I-64 west of Richmond toward the West Virginia state line.
The average daily traffic volume on I-64 ranges from 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles on some parts to more than 100,000 passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers on others.
Virginia Collision Data in 2021
In 2021, Virginia saw 118,498 collisions, a 12.2% increase in crashes from 2020.
Out of the 118,498 collisions, there were 968 fatalities, 58,786 deaths, and 80,010 accidents resulting in property damage.
On average, one crash occurred every 4.4 minutes, 2.7 lives were lost per day, and 161 persons were injured per day.
In addition, 22,072 accidents in 2021 occurred on an interstate, 24,620 accidents were speed-related, and 6,749 were alcohol-related.
Motor Vehicle Crash Risks on I-64 in Virginia
Interstate 64 is the site of many automobile collisions.
Indeed, rear-end crashes and collisions with fixed objects are common on I-64.
On the sections of I-64 in western Virginia, drivers face steep terrain, winding roads, and poor weather, particularly in the winter. One study found Interstate 64 to be one of the most dangerous roads for driving in bad weather conditions.
And in the sections of I-64 in central and eastern Virginia, drivers face crowded roadways.
Indeed, a 2013 Hampton Roads Regional Safety Study found that most of the 25 most dangerous freeway sections in the metropolitan area are located on I-64 or I-264 in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. For example, the area near the Interstate 264/ Interstate 64 interchange is one of Virginia’s busiest and most dangerous roadway segments.
Further, thick fog and rockslides sometimes create hazards on portions of I-64, such as Afton Mountain.
Major I-64 Accidents
Many significant crashes have occurred on I-64 in Virginia.
For example:
On December 22, 2019, a massive 75-car pile-up on Interstate 64 at the Queens Creek Bridge in Upper York County shut down the interstate for over seven hours and injured more than 50 people. Virginia State Police investigators reported that the pile-up resulted from a vehicle hitting a patch of black ice and spinning before being struck by other cars.
On July 17, 2021, Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-64 at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. The accident happened when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck a fully illuminated tow truck stopped just inside the tunnel’s work zone. This impact pushed the tow truck 391 feet after being impacted, causing catastrophic injuries to the driver.
On November 16, 2021, a multi-vehicle accident in James City County resulted in multiple injuries. Investigators believe that a blinding sunrise that morning caused vehicles in the eastbound lanes to slow down, leading to a chain of events that sparked a 2018 Freightliner to run into the back of a 2021 Nissan and a 2017 Kenworth T3. After the Kenworth was struck, marble slates fell off from the vehicle and onto the road, shutting down all eastbound I-64 lanes.
Most recently, on August 27, 2022, in Henrico County, Virginia, a chain-reaction crash on I-64 west resulted in the deaths of a teenager and adult male, and multiple injuries. According to police reports, the multi-vehicle accident involved a Honda and Jaguar, killing the drivers of both vehicles. Police believe that the Honda and Jaguar were racing with two other vehicles when the crash occurred.
What to Do if You are In an Accident on Interstate 64
If you are involved in an accident on I-64 in Virginia, you should pull over to a safe stopping place and check yourself and passengers for injuries.
If you, your passengers, or persons in the other vehicle require medical attention, or if one vehicle sustained damage, you should immediately notify the police.
If you can safely photograph your vehicle, the incident scene, and any injuries sustained, you should do so.
You should also exchange information with all parties involved in the accident.
After you are permitted to leave the accident scene, you should report the incident to your insurance company and consult with an attorney. Make sure you keep a file with all information regarding the accident. And get a copy of the Police Crash Report.
Even if you don’t require immediate medical attention, monitor yourself for changes that may require treatment. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (concussion), whiplash, or back injury may start a few days after the collision.
We Can Help You Get Fair Compensation for Injuries Suffered in an I-64 Crash Today
If you get hurt in a crash on I-64, you might be entitled to monetary damages if someone else’s negligence caused you harm or workers compensation benefits if the accident happened while driving for work.
Call our firm today for a free consultation to determine your rights under the tort laws in Virginia: (804) 251-1620 or (757) 810-5614.
See why past clients and other attorneys have voted me one of Virginia’s best personal injury attorneys.
And what we can do for you and your family.
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