Crash occurs after driver slides on ice

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - A vehicle fire and a multi-vehicle accident on 168 headed toward Chesapeake caused some major backup early Wednesday morning.

Fire crews put out a car fire on the 168 bypass and the water froze.

Then, the driver of a white truck slid on the ice. While he called for help, another truck spun out and hit his truck. All of this was caught on video by Chopper 10's John Massey. ( Click here to read his blog about it. )

"I don't think the drivers who hit the ice are at fault, I don't see how they could be at fault," said driver Mark Griffith.

Since conditions were otherwise clear, the driver questions why anyone would be looking out for ice. "It would have to be, I guess, the fire department's liability," said the driver.

However, the fire department is protected by sovereign immunity, and they won't have to pay for the damages.

A Chesapeake spokesperson said the engine company officer requested a sand truck. Because of unsafe conditions, that officer, working with the police officer, closed the remaining lane until public works arrived.

But was that too little too late?

"The drivers should have seen what was going on around, slowed down, and be cautious and took his time, so his going into the ditch I guess was his own fault," said driver Bryan Springfield.

Insurance companies would tend to agree.

Allstate agent Lee Ann Sullivan couldn't speak about this accident specifically but said in general, if you slide off a roadway, even during bad weather, it is the driver's fault.

Her advice to avoid this was to slow down around flashing lights, and just stay home during bad weather.