Friday, June 4, 2010

Thursday Afternoon Storm Caused Major Delays on Route 15

A severe storm led to major delays on Route 15 near Lucketts, Va. yesterday afternoon, Thursday, June 3.

Around 4:30 p.m. a line of thunderstorms passed through Loudoun County, producing a number of downed trees and power lines in the area. One driver traveling in the area of Route 15 and Kenslee Hill Lane became trapped in his vehicle when a tree fell onto his car pulling down power lines with it.

The driver, William F. Austin, 72, of Mt. Airy, Md., was trapped in his 2010 Ford Focus for almost two hours as emergency personnel extricated him from his vehicle. He was airlifted from the scene as a precaution and is said to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A second motorist had the same string of power lines fall over his truck while a third vehicle was trapped between two fallen trees on Route 15. The two drivers were not injured.

Route 15 was closed for over eight hours as emergency personnel cleared the scene of vehicles and trees while utility crews restrung the power and utility lines. Some of the secondary roads used to divert traffic were also blocked by downed trees causing further delays for motorists. The roadway was re-opened at 12:50 a.m. this morning, Friday, June 4.

Traffic was diverted in the area along Stumptown Road and at the Loudoun County, Va. and Maryland line.

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