GALAX, Va. — About 95 vehicles crashed Sunday along a foggy stretch of interstate near the Virginia-North Carolina state line, killing three people and injuring more than 20 others, police said.
Traffic backed up for about 8 miles in the southbound lanes of Interstate 77 in southwest Virginia. Authorities closed the northbound lanes so that first responders could get to the wreck.
A series of crashes began around 1:15 p.m. Sunday in the area of Fancy Gap Mountain.
It was not immediately clear how serious the injuries were or how long the interstate would be closed. Tow trucks worked to clear some of the wrecked cars and trucks.
Motorists were advised to seek alternate routes.
In Nevada on Sunday, authorities released the names of five members of a Southern California family who were killed in a southern Nevada traffic crash a day earlier.
The Clark County coroner’s office identified the victims as Genaro Fernandez, 41, of Norwalk, Calif.; Raudel Fernandez-Avila, 49, and Belen Fernandez, 53, both of Lynwood, Calif.; and Angela Sandoval, 13, and Leonardo Fernandez-Avila, 45, both of Los Angeles.
Jean Soriano, 18, of California, the driver of the sport utility vehicle, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.