By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist
April 1,2013; 6:44PM,EDT
AccuWeather.com has confirmed that it was foggy at the time of the deadly crash on I-77 in southern Virginia that involved 95 vehicles.
Jason Bond, a spokesperson for Virginia Department of Transportation confirmed to AccuWeather.com that fog was present when the crash occurred at southbound mile marker 6 between 1:00 and 1:15 p.m. EDT.
"The area is prone to dense fog....and it is still foggy," Bond stated at 4 p.m. This stretch of I-77 crosses the higher terrain of southwestern Virginia in Carroll County.
Even though the accident occurred on the southbound side, Bond reports that the northbound lanes were also closed to allow crews to get to the accident side.
The Virginia Department of Transportation issued an update at 4:50 p.m. stating that the right lane of the northbound lane had been reopened.
Southbound motorists were being detoured from the accident scene at exits 8, 14 and 24 for much longer as vehicles, glass and debris were removed from the roadway.
The state police issued a statement that there were three fatalities and more than 25 others injured in the separate 17 crashes.
In this same statement, authorities claimed that they believe that the limited visibility with the fog was the cause of the massive pile-up.
This image provided by WXII Channel 12 news, shows the scene following a 75-vehicle pileup on Interstate 77 near the Virginia-North Carolina border in Galax, Va., on Sunday, March 31, 2013. Virginia State Police say three people have been killed and more than 20 are injured and traffic is backed up about 8 miles. (AP Photo/WXII, William Bottomley) MANDATORY CREDIT: WXII,WILLIAM BOTTOMLEY
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