Roanoke County, Virginia (December 21, 2025) — Virginia State Police are investigating a devastating late-night crash on Interstate 81 that claimed the lives of three members of the same family, including a young child, after a tractor-trailer struck a vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
The victims were identified as Lorraine Renee Williams, 65, who was driving the vehicle, and two passengers, Ebony Latasha Williams, 49, and Shazziyah Lesley, 2, according to Virginia State Police.
Incident Details: The crash occurred late Monday evening near the 145-mile marker of northbound Interstate 81 in Roanoke County. State police said a 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer traveling northbound ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a 2025 Honda Odyssey that was stopped on the right shoulder.
There were six people inside the Honda at the time of impact. Lorraine Williams, Ebony Williams, and Shazziyah Lesley were transported to the hospital, where they later died from their injuries. The remaining three passengers in the vehicle were also hospitalized with injuries. Their conditions have not been released.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as 58-year-old El Hadji Karamoko Quattara, who was not reported to be injured. Virginia State Police said he was charged with reckless driving, and additional charges remain pending.
Investigation: Virginia State Police continue to investigate how the tractor-trailer left the travel lane and struck a vehicle fully stopped on the shoulder. In crashes of this nature, investigators typically analyze whether the truck driver experienced fatigue, distraction, or loss of vehicle control in the moments leading up to the collision.
Troopers will examine physical evidence, including tire marks, roadway gouges, debris fields, and vehicle damage to reconstruct the truck’s path of travel. Investigators are also expected to review electronic logging data, vehicle telemetry, and braking information from the tractor-trailer to determine the speed, steering input, and driver behavior leading up to the crash.
Visibility, lighting conditions, and whether the stopped vehicle was properly positioned and illuminated on the shoulder will also be evaluated. In shoulder-impact crashes, investigators closely examine whether commercial drivers maintained adequate lane discipline and vigilance, particularly during nighttime hours.
Legal Considerations: Crashes involving tractor-trailers striking vehicles stopped on the shoulder are among the most catastrophic roadway events. Motorists who pull over for safety reasons are especially vulnerable, relying on passing drivers to remain attentive and maintain control of their vehicles.
When a commercial driver is charged with reckless driving in a fatal crash, it raises serious questions about accountability and safety practices. If investigators determine that negligence contributed to the collision, the victims’ families may have grounds to pursue wrongful death and personal injury claims. These claims can help cover medical expenses, funeral costs, and the profound loss of companionship and support, while also reinforcing the responsibility commercial drivers carry on public roadways.
I extend my deepest condolences to the Williams family and to all who are grieving this unimaginable loss.
Source: WSET / Virginia State Police