PORTSMOUTH -- Virginia State Police say a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing him to lose control and overturn his rig early Tuesday.
The track carrying plasma overturned on I-164 near Victory Blvd. just before 2:00 a.m.
Because of the nature of the cargo, the scene was handled as a Hazmat situation.
Sgt. Michelle Anaya said the rig was going east when the driver ran off the road, went over the median and into the westbound lanes. It overturned and caught fire.
After the fire was put out, crews were brought in to offload the cargo.
A crane got the rig off its side around 7:05 a.m., the vehicle was removed from the road by 8:00 a.m. and the Interstate was reopened around 10:45 a.m.
Timothy Paul McKelvey, 34, of Va. Beach, has been charged with reckless driving.
He was wearing his seatbelt and suffered minor injuries.
Authorities said none of the blood plasma spilled.
There was another early morning traffic incident in Norfolk just before 3 a.m. on I-64 East near Northampton Boulevard.
Police said several vehicles were involved and there were serious injuries reported.
Traffic was diverted to Northampton Boulevard for the cleanup and the road reopened to all traffic at 7:10 a.m.
