Aug. 11--Three accidents on Interstate 79 sent at least five people to the hospital and backed up traffic on several area roadways during evening rush hour Monday.

The first accident was reported to MECCA 911 at 3:36 p.m., shortly after a thunderstorm hit the area. It occurred at the north end of the Uffington Bridge on I-79, just past the I-68 split.

Officials at the scene said the driver of a tractor-trailer traveling southbound lost control and tore out a 100-foot section of guard rail before hitting a small passenger car. The driver of the tractor-trailer -- owned by All State Van Lines of Kent, Wash. -- was not injured.

The female driver of the car suffered minor injuries. She and a one-year-old child traveling in a safety seat were transported to the hospital by Monongalia EMS. The child did not appear to be injured.

Volunteer firefighters for Clinton District, Triune-Halleck and Westover joined the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department at the scene. Hazmat teams also responded because the tractortrailer was leaking fuel.

Mike Wolfe, deputy director of MECCA 911, said the accident was one of three reported on I-79 on Monday afternoon. He said the sheriff's department is investigating all three accidents, but 1st Sgt. Marshell King said no information was available Monday evening.

"It's under investigation, and there's no press release on it," said Donnie Powell, a process and transport officer who spoke to The Dominion Post on King's behalf.

The second accident on I-79 was reported to MECCA 911 at 4:41 p.m. Scanner traffic indicated that it was a rollover, and one woman involved was transported by Health-Net. Her two daughters were taken to the hospital by ambulance.

The third accident was reported to MECCA 911 at 5:30 p.m. Wolfe said it was minor, with no need for assistance from local fire departments or EMS.

The northbound lanes of I-79 were closed until about 6 p.m., when one lane was opened to traffic. Northbound traffic entering I-79 was still backed up past the University Avenue Exit on I-68 at 6:30 p.m., however.

Traffic traveling south on I-79 was reduced to one lane after the first accident. Motorists were stuck in traffic past the Westover Exit, but the congestion had cleared by 6:30 p.m.

Scanner traffic indicated that W.Va. 73 and University Avenue were also backed up. Mike Wolfe, deputy director for MECCA 911 said traffic signals on University Avenue and Mileground Road malfunctioned after the thunderstorm, contributing to the congestion.

"The Division of Highways, the city or whoever controls those signals is out trying to fix them," Wolfe said. "That's caused some traffic backup, as well."

Accidents were also reported on Van Voorhis Road, Chestnut Ridge Road, University Avenue and Monongahela Boulevard on Monday.

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