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Shenandoah County, VA (July 3, 2026) – One person was killed, and another was injured early on Thursday following a collision on Interstate 81 northbound at the 286-mile marker in Shenandoah County.
According to the Virginia State Police, the crash occurred around 3:18 a.m. when a 2013 Honda Crosstour was stopped in the right travel lane, possibly due to a mechanical issue. The driver, Dennis L. Marshall, 78, of Willow Spring, North Carolina, had exited the vehicle and was standing near the front of it when a tractor-trailer struck the Honda.
Authorities stated that the impact caused the Honda to strike Marshall. The tractor-trailer then hit a bridge barrier and overturned. Marshall was pronounced dead at the location of the crash.
A passenger in the Honda, Barbara A. Marshall, 77, was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. The tractor-trailer driver also sustained minor injuries.
No additional details have been released, and the circumstances are still being reviewed. We extend our condolences to the family of the man who lost his life and wish the injured a full recovery.
Why Stopped-Vehicle Highway Collisions Usually Turn Severe
Collisions involving disabled or stopped vehicles on highways are particularly dangerous due to high travel speeds and limited reaction time. When a vehicle is stationary in a live travel lane, approaching drivers may have little opportunity to safely maneuver, especially in low-light conditions.
Investigations in these cases often focus on vehicle positioning, visibility, lighting, and roadway markings. They may also review the mechanical condition, driver actions leading up to the stop, and whether warning signals or hazard indicators were present. These factors help reconstruct how the sequence of events unfolded and why the collision occurred.
