A North Carolina trucker remained in critical condition last night after a fiery crash on southbound Interstate 95 early yesterday near the Temple Avenue exit in Colonial Heights.

Shortly after 5 a.m., a 2003 International tractor-trailer driven by David Bowens of North Carolina swerved to avoid a wreck that had just occurred.

The tractor-trailer jackknifed and struck the barrier wall, said Sgt. Tom Cunningham, Virginia State Police spokesman. The truck then overturned and rode along the top of the barrier before it burst into flames, Cunningham said.

Moments before Bowens crashed, a car driven by Chanel Millington, 21, of Surry came into the lane of a pickup truck hauling a trailer, Cunningham said. The pickup, driven by Helen Momsen, 63, of Winchester, was struck and swerved into the barrier separating the southbound and northbound lanes.

He said Momsen and Millington had non-life-threatening injuries. Cunningham said Millington was charged with reckless driving.

Bowens was being treated at VCU Medical Center.

All lanes of Interstate 95 near mile marker 56 were snarled for hours as contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation made temporary repairs to the barrier, inspected the road for damage and cleaned up spilled fuel. All lanes were open by 1:30 p.m.
Contact Linda Dunham at (804) 775-8126 or ldunham@timesdispatch.com.