Tanker truck driver cited for reckless driving, faulty brakes after I-495 crash

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - A Woodbridge man who was behind the wheel of a tanker truck that crashed on the I-495 Inner Loop at the American Legion Bridge on Thursday has been cited for reckless driving, and for using defective brakes.

The crash shut down the I-495 Inner Loop in the area overnight, and created traffic havoc throughout the DMV.

Weldon Harrison, 45, faces one count of reckless driving, and for counts of using defective brakes.

Investigators say Harrison was trying to slow down around 1:52 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle and it overturned onto its side across the right shoulder and three lanes of the busy interstate.

During the course of the crash, the tanker truck struck a northbound Honda Civic.

A Toyota Corolla that was trying to evade the tanker-truck clipped it instead, and a Toyota Camry struck the tanker when the driver was unable to stop in time.

The Toyota Camry driver was the only person who was injured in the crash. He was treated at Fairfax Inova Hospital for minor injuries.

The tanker was carrying about 8,500 gallons of fuel that needed to be unloaded before it could be removed from the scene.