Driver Killed in Trailer Tractor Accident - WSET.com - ABC13

Update Friday 10 a.m.:

Rocky Mount, VA - Officials say Thursday's deadly tractor trailer accident in Wirtz did about $500,000 in damage.

State police say the truck driver ran off the road, slammed into the Blue Ridge Antique Center and then caught fire. The driver from North Carolina was killed.

Four employees and as many as 10 customers were inside the building when the truck came plowing through the front door.

Witnesses say at least five cars in the parking lot were damaged or destroyed.

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Update 5:40 p.m.:

Rocky Mount, VA – Officials are at the scene of an accident in a Franklin County shopping center that left one person dead and a big traffic backup.

A tractor trailer traveling up Route 220 in Wirtz left the road and slammed into the Blue Ridge Antique Center before catching on fire.

One eyewitness described it as if a "bomb went off".

State police officials confirmed that the truck driver, who is from North Carolina, was killed in this accident, although the chain of events could have easily caused that number to go up.

At the time of the accident, four employees and as many as 10 customers were inside the building when the truck came plowing through the front door.

Witnesses say the truck then immediately burst into flames, significantly damaging the building and at least five cars in the parking lot.

Ron Perdue was working inside when he heard a loud noise before looking up and seeing the truck come into the building.

"Our main concern was to get the customers out of the store and get everybody out a safe distance away because there was a huge flame that was burning all the way across the parking lot. The truck tanks evidently ruptured when it hit our big sign here," said Perdue.

Right now, State police have opened one lane in each direction of US 220 and say it will be some time before the road is fully open, so if going through there, expect things to slow down a little there in the Wirtz area.

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Update 4:05 p.m.:

Franklin Co., VA - State police have confirmed that one person died Thursday in a fiery tractor trailer accident in Rocky Mount.

One lane of Route 220 in Rocky Mount is now reopened as police continue to deal with a tractor trailer that crashed into the Blue Ridge Antique Mall.

The tractor trailer went through the front door of the mall and caught on fire.

ABC-13 Reporter David Tate says all you can see is the trailer with significant fire damage. He also says at least five other vehicles were damaged or destroyed in the crash.

The southbound lane on Route 220 is now open to local traffic only.  The northbound lane remains closed.

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Rocky Mount, VA – Officials have shut down both lanes of US 220 in Franklin County as police and firefighters respond to a tractor trailer accident.

Officials say the driver of a tractor trailer ran into a building and then caught fire.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Transportation say the north left lane and right lane are closed on 220 near Wirtz Rd.

Drivers should look for detours. Northbound traffic is being detoured onto Route 220 business. Southbound traffic is being detoured onto Route 919.

We have a crew at the scene and will bring you more information as soon as we get it.