Maryland driver killed in three-vehicle crash on I-95 North in Hanover

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Maryland woman is dead after a crash on Interstate 95 North in Hanover County on Thursday morning.

At around 4:25 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, troopers with the Virginia State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash near mile marker 97 on I-95, just before the Doswell exit. The early-morning crash involved two tractor-trailers and a Lexus SUV.

According to authorities, preliminary investigation showed that the SUV made a "sudden and drastic maneuver" into the center lane on I-95. At which point, one of the tractor-trailers traveling behind the SUV attempted to avoid a collision by merging into the left lane.

The Lexus then hit the tractor-trailer and pushed it into the second tractor-trailer in the right lane shortly before running off the roadway to the left and hitting two trees.

(Photo: Virginia State Police)

(Photo: Virginia State Police)

"The two tractor-trailers also made contact, causing one to jackknife," the Virginia State Police said.

Both tractor-trailers then caught fire, which was shortly extinguished. Police said one person was killed in the crash. Neither of the truck drivers was injured.

The SUV driver, 56-year-old Stella Ogechi Amadi of Winsor Mill, Md., was taken to VCU Medical Center. She later died from her injuries. Police confirmed she was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

As of about 8:30 a.m on Thursday, the Virginia Department of Transportation said traffic backups were about seven miles. Multiple lanes were blocked for about 90 minutes before reopening at 10:05 a.m. Police continue to investigate the crash.