Some lanes reopen on Jefferson Ave. after log truck crash

NEWPORT NEWS

Traffic is still backed up along Jefferson Avenue where a log truck overturned after striking a vehicle at the intersection with Center Avenue.

The southbound lanes of Jefferson Avenue have been reopened, but traffic is still moving slowly, said Lou Thurston, a Newport News police spokesman. The northbound lanes between South and North avenues remain closed to all traffic.

About 2 p.m. the log truck and a blue Scion were traveling south on Jefferson Avenue when a gray Mercury, traveling east on Center Avenue, crossed into the intersection against a red light, said Harold Eley, a police spokesman. It appears that the Mercury was struck by both the log truck and the Scion.

A fourth vehicle, an Oldsmobile, was traveling north on Jefferson Avenue when the crash occurred and was hit.

The log truck overturned and slid into the median, spilling its logs across the road.

The driver of the log truck and the Mercury were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The driver of the Oldsmobile refused treatment and the driver of the Scion did not have injuries that required a trip to the hospital.

Eley said all of the information about the crash is preliminary and that it remains under investigation.

It was unknown when the northbound lanes of traffic on Jefferson Avenue would reopen. Warwick Boulevard was suggested as an alternate.