Virginia State Police identified the driver as Derek P. Volkmer, 40, of Glen Burnie, Maryland. Volkmer was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash, which occurred Thursday morning, September 3, 2026, on northbound I-95 near Exit 140 at Courthouse Road.
According to investigators, Volkmer was operating a tractor-trailer pulling a flatbed when the vehicle left the right side of the interstate. The truck subsequently struck the Courthouse Road overpass before overturning. The circumstances that caused the tractor-trailer to leave the roadway remain under investigation.
Emergency crews responded to the scene as authorities worked to secure the crash area and deal with the overturned vehicle. The collision caused substantial disruption to traffic along the busy interstate, with northbound lanes closed for several hours while responders and transportation crews worked at the scene.
The crash created backups extending for miles, affecting not only I-95 but also Route 1 and nearby secondary roads. Virginia Department of Transportation officials initially reported that two of the three northbound lanes were closed, leaving a single lane open to passing traffic.
By the afternoon, additional lanes had reopened as cleanup and recovery operations progressed. VDOT later reported that all northbound lanes at the Exit 140 interchange were open.
Authorities have not indicated that other vehicles were involved, and the investigation remains ongoing. Officials have also not released a specific cause for the crash.
For those who knew Derek Volkmer, the news of his sudden death is a devastating loss. A life ended unexpectedly on a busy highway has left family, friends, and loved ones facing an unimaginable period of grief.
May Derek P. Volkmer rest in peace. Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragic loss.
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