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3 hurt, tanker truck overturns in I-395 crash in Arlington

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A crash involving an overturned tanker truck sent three people to the hospital and closed the southbound lanes of Interstate 395 in Arlington, Virginia, for a few hours Wednesday afternoon, leading to some backups.

The crash happened about 1:15 p.m. in the southbound lanes of I-395 near Exit 5 in the Shirlington area, according to Virginia State Police.

State police said the crash caused the tanker truck to catch fire. Arlington County Fire & EMS said the truck was carrying propane, triggering a HAZMAT response.

The three people taken to the hospital have injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The crash closed the southbound lanes of I-395 between Glebe Road and King Street for nearly 2 and 1/2 hours Wednesday, leading to big backups.

The lanes reopened about 3:30 p.m.

Push to make work trucks, cargo vans as safe as personal vehicles

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which has a 30-year history of conducting crash tests to make sedans, minivans and SUVs safer is now testing cargo vans and work trucks that many people drive on the job. In 2023, 6,535 people were killed in crashes involving heavy-or medium-duty trucks or light vans, accounting for 16% of all roadway fatalities, according to the Arlington, Virginia-based insurance group. David Kidd, vice president of vehicle research for IIHS, said gaps in the U.S. vehicle safety system make commercial vehicles riskier to both their drivers and those they share the road with.
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