Virginia State Police Trooper L. B. Umberger is investigating a fatal crash, which occurred Tuesday afternoon on northbound Interstate 81 at the 127.5 mile marker in Montgomery County.
A 1988 Freightliner tractor-trailer was traveling north in the right lane on Interstate 81 at the 127.5-mile marker, when traffic began to slow. The truck did not allow enough room to stop safely. The Freightliner struck a 2008 Chrysler Sebring in the rear, changed lanes striking a 2013 Nissan Altima which was stopped for traffic in the left lane. The tractor-trailer then pushed the 2013 Nissan into the rear of an International box truck and came to rest.
The driver of the Freightliner was Khaul Aamir Rahim, 47, of Wilmington, Deleware. Rahim was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured. He was charged with Reckless Driving in the crash; other charges are pending.
The driver of the Chrysler was Princess K. Gress, 25, of Johnson City, Tennessee. Gress was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the 2013 Nissan was Bradley McKeown, 32, of Charlottesville. He was not wearing his seatbelt and was transported Lewis-Gale Montgomery for non-life threatening injuries. The passenger, Katherine B. McKeown, 31, of Charlottesville was wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene.
The driver of the 2015 International was John A. Caraway, 54, of Thomasville, North Carolina was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.
The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team assisted with the crash.
The Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Unit assisted with the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
