Hundreds stranded on Virginia’s roads

RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds of motorists were stranded after a winter storm snarled traffic in Virginia and left some drivers stuck in place for nearly 24 hours in freezing temperatures along an impassable stretch of interstate south of the nation’s capital.

Problems began Monday morning when a truck jackknifed on Interstate 95, the main north-south highway along the East Coast, triggering a swift chain reaction as other vehicles lost control, state police said.

Lanes in both directions became blocked across a 40mile stretch of I-95 north of Richmond. As hours passed and night fell, motorists posted messages on social media about running out of fuel, food and water.

Around daybreak, road crews began helping drivers get off “at any available interchange,“the Virginia Department of Transportation tweeted.

By early evening, only about 20 cars remained on the affected section of road and no one was left stranded, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation said.

Steve Helber / Associated Press Drivers wait for the traffic to be cleared as cars and trucks are stranded on sections of Interstate 95 on Tuesday in Carmel Church, Va. Close to 48 miles of the Interstate was closed due to ice and snow.