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NORFOLK, Norfolk County, VA, Sept. 24, 2026 — A multi-vehicle crash closed several eastbound lanes of Interstate 264 in Norfolk on Tuesday morning, September 22, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. At least one person was hospitalized.
The crash was reported near mile marker 14.2, close to the Newtown Road exit, VDOT said. One person was reportedly taken by ambulance to an area hospital; the extent of that person's injuries has not been released.
VDOT reported that all eastbound inside lanes were shut down while crews worked the scene, with traffic backed up for about a mile. It was not immediately clear how many vehicles were involved.
The scene remained active as of Tuesday, and drivers were urged to expect delays. No further details on the cause of the crash have been released.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
How a Multi-Vehicle Highway Crash Investigation Unfolds
A pileup on a busy interstate rarely gets a quick, full explanation. Troopers or state crews first have to clear people to hospitals and stop traffic to secure the scene, which on a highway with backed-up lanes can itself take time. Only after that does the work of figuring out what happened begin.
Investigators typically document the position of each vehicle, gather physical evidence such as skid marks and debris fields, and speak with drivers and witnesses separately, since accounts differ in a chain-reaction event. If a death or serious injury happened, reconstruction specialists may be called in to map out speed, braking, and impact sequence, work that can take days or weeks to finalize.
Toxicology results, when ordered, take several weeks to come back from a lab. Agencies also tend to hold names until next of kin have been notified, which is a separate process from releasing a police report. A reliable account of a multi-vehicle crash takes more time to build than a single-car incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes multi-vehicle crashes harder to investigate than single-car wrecks?
Investigators have to reconstruct multiple points of impact and sort out the order in which vehicles struck each other, which usually means more evidence, more witnesses, and more time before a report is final.
What typically causes a chain-reaction pileup on a highway?
Sudden slowing or a stopped vehicle ahead, combined with following distances that are too short for the speed of traffic, is a common factor. Weather, congestion, and driver distraction can all contribute.
How can drivers avoid getting caught in a highway pileup?
Leaving extra following distance, watching brake lights well ahead rather than just the car directly in front, and slowing early when traffic is backing up all help reduce the chance of being pulled into a chain-reaction crash.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Norfolk, VA
If you're involved in or witness a highway pileup, move to a safe location if you're able and call 911 to confirm emergency crews are aware of everyone hurt. Even if you feel fine, a medical check is worth getting, since injuries from a sudden stop or secondary impact aren't always obvious right away.
Take photos of vehicle positions and any visible damage if it's safe to do so, and get contact information from other drivers and witnesses. Ask how to obtain the official crash report once it's completed, since that process can take time on a multi-vehicle scene. If you're stuck in the resulting backup, stay patient and give responders room to work.
