Suffolk VA Lumber Truck MVA & Fire Closes Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel

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From Virginia Statewide Incidents on Facebook:

Crash Involving Two Tractor-Trailers Shuts Down Monitor-Merrimack Bridge-Tunnel (I-664, major N-S highway through Hampton Roads)
Suffolk, Va - Virginia State Police are investigating a crash involving two tractor-trailers that occurred at approximately 11:17 a.m. this morning in the northbound lanes of the Monitor-Merrimack Bridge-Tunnel.
One of the tractor-trailers caught fire as a result of the crash.
Traffic is currently stopped in both directions while crews work the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.

From Hampton Roads Fire Rescue Incidents (Savyon Crowell):

Suffolk FD (northbound lanes):

Suffolk/District 11/Battalion 2
Lumber Trailer Truck Fire
Northbound 1-664 - Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel
Suffolk Units:
E11, L11, E5, M11, R2, T1, T9, BAT2

Newport News FD (southbound lanes):

Newport News Units:
E1, E2, TW7, MAR2, MAR7, SAF2, CAR7, CAR8, BAT1

Isle Of Wight Units (Carrolton FD)

Tanker 10

Photo credits: 1: VDOT Traffic Cam; 2,3,4: Amir Armstrong

This incident is causing major traffic problems throughout the Hampton Roads region, as the Monitor-Merrimac tunnel carries a huge amount of traffic. As of 12:50 traffic remains stopped in both directions, and backups of up to 3.5 miles exist on I-664 and I-64.

 

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3:00 PM:

UPDATE – Crash on Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel
Suffolk, Va – The backups have been cleared and all southbound lanes have reopened on the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel.
Virginia State Police are investigating a crash involving two tractor-trailers that occurred around 11:17 a.m. this morning in the northbound lanes. One of the tractor-trailers caught fire as a result of the collision.
According to police, a Freightliner was traveling northbound on the MMBT when it slowed for traffic congestion. A second Freightliner, loaded with lumber, was unable to stop in time and struck the first tractor-trailer. The impact caused the lumber truck to catch fire, which ultimately consumed the entire vehicle.
The driver of the second tractor-trailer, Marvin Tucker, 52, of Whitakers, N.C., was charged with following too closely. Tucker was not injured. The driver and passenger in the first tractor-trailer were also uninjured.
The crash remains under investigation.

As of 1540, all northbound lanes remain closed, with no estimate of when they may reopen. Current backup is 9.5 miles.