Deadly Pileup In South-West VA (Fancy Gap Mt. Multiple Car Collisions Alert)

BBC News ^ | 3/31/2013 | BBC News

[BigCinBigD]

Nothing good ever comes from Fancy Gap Mountain.

[shotdog]

“... if it goes where you want to go.”

We live a mile from I-81. It has been there since the early ‘60s and it hasn’t moved an inch in all that time. It does gain an inch or two in altitude every 10 or so years whenever NYDOT deigns to spend a buck on fly-over country. ;>) sd

[JimRed]

If you suddenly enter fog, a good move (besides slowing down, of course) would be to activate the panic button on your key/key fob. Noise and flashing lights increase awareness of your presence to other drivers. But, DON’T STOP unless you can get well off the roadway in a safe location. And you have to look out for the moron ahead who panic stopped in the middle as well.

[wbill]

A couple of years ago, I drove by a compact car (of some sort, unable to tell) that had just rear-ended, and gone up under a Suburban. It, and its occupants, looked like they'd been mashed with a flyswatter. No survivors, very obviously.

I'm forever grateful to the cops on-scene. They did a fantastic job of distracting my kids - on the opposite side of the car from the accident - so that they didn't get an eyeful.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Pilot Mountain to the south (left as you are descending).

It's an odd-shaped mountain with a circular "hump" on the eastern side.

I believe it's part of Pilot Mountain State park.

[old curmudgeon]

Pilot Mountain is nowhere near the I-77 accident.

Pilot Mountain is off US 52, well south of the VA line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_Mountain_%28North_Carolina%29

[FroggyTheGremlim]

As you descend I-77 after Mt. Airy and Galax exits, there are views of Pilot Mountain to the South (SouthEast).

[Celtic Conservative]

That's it. on a clear day you can see the whole piedmont valley laid out in front of you. absolutely breathtaking.

CC

[Gopher Broke]

A source you can trust....Fox News link to the story...

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/31/3-killed-in-75-car-pileup-on-virginia-highway/?test=latestnews

[tiki]

Eeeeh, my head hurts.

[Moose4]

Yep, I’ve driven it several times. The view is spectacular but it’s a steep descent and the view can also be pretty distracting. When it’s clear, Fancy Gap is gorgeous, but when it’s not...

}:-)4