While much of the region was hunkered down during the first major snow storm of the year, Virginia State Police (VSP) increased manpower that, for many troopers, required 12-hour shifts.
According to emailed media releases from VSP Public Relations Coordinator Matthew Demlein, the longer shifts began on Sunday, January 5, 2025 and extended through January 7.
While the increased presence of troopers on Virginia roadways was in preparation for winter storm Blair, not all crashes during the blizzard were storm-related.
Call reports were as follows:
January 5, 2025 (4 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
Div 1 (Richmond) – Virginia State Police investigated 6 crashes, none with injuries
Div 2 (Culpeper – NW Va.) Virginia State Police investigated two crashes, none with injuries
Div. 3 (Appomattox – Central-west) Virginia State Police investigated 8 crashes, three with reported injuries.
Div. 4 (Wytheville – SWVA) – VSP investigated 20 crashes, three with reported injuries (between noon and 4 it was 85 crashes, three with reported injuries).
Div.5 (Chesapeake – Hampton Roads) – VSP investigated three crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div. 6 (Salem – western Va.) – VSP investigated 47 crashes, five with reported injuries (between noon and four it was 51, four with reported injuries).
January 6, 2025 (12 a.m. – 4 a.m.)
Div.1 (Richmond) – VSP responded to 13 crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div. 2 (Culpeper – NW Va.) – VSP responded to 15 crashes, none with reported injuries
Div.3 (Appomattox – Central/West Va.) – VSP responded to three crashes, none with reported injuries
Div. 4 (Wytheville – SW Va.) – VSP responded to five crashes, none with reported injuries
Div. 5 (Chesapeake – Hampton Roads) – VSP responded to six crashes, two with reported injuries. There is also a reported fatal crash under investigation.
Div 6 (Salem – Western Va.) – VSP responded to two crashes, none with reported injuries.
Div. 7 (NOVA) – VSP responded to eight crashes, none with reported injuries
January 6, 2025 (4 a.m. – 11 a.m.)
Div 1. (Richmond) – Virginia State Police responded to 96 crashes, four with reported injuries.
Div 2. (Culpeper – NWVA) – Virginia State Police responded to 33 crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div 3. (Appomattox – Central/West Va.) – Virginia State Police responded to 22 crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div 4 (Wytheville – SWVA) – VSP responded to 11 crashes, none with reported injuries.
Div. 5 (Hampton Roads) – VSP responded to 22 crashes, six with reported injuries.
Div. 6 (Salem – Western Va.) VSP responded to 31 crashes, four with reported injuries.
Div. 7 (NOVA) – VSP responded to 33 crashes, three with reported injuries.
January 6, 2025 (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Div 1. (Richmond) – VSP handled nine crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div 2 (Culpeper – NWVA) – VSP handled 12 crashes, one with reported injuries
Div 3 (Appomattox – Central-West Va.) – VSP handled nine crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div. 4 – (Wytheville – SWVA) – VSP handled four crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div. 5 (Chesapeake – Hampton Roads) – VSP handled eight crashes, one with reported injuries
Div. 6 (Salem – Western Va.) – VSP handled six crashes, none with reported injuries
Div. 7 (NOVA) – VSP handled 25 crashes, two with reported injuries.
January 6, 2025 (4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)
Div 1. (Richmond) — VSP responded to six crashes
Div 2 (Culpeper – NWVa) – VSP responded to five crashes.
Div 3 (Appomattox – Central/West Va.) – VSP responded to seven crashes
Div 4 (Wytheville – SWVA) – VSP responded to four crashes
Div. 5 (Chesapeake – Hampton Roads) – VSP responded to 14 crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div 6 (Salem – Western Va.) – VSP responded to three crashes
Div. 7 (NOVA) – VSP responded to 13 crashes, four with reported injuries.
By midnight January 7, the peak of the storm had passed and the number of vehicle crashes had greatly reduced.
According to the final VSP email, the following calls were reported:
January 7, 2025 (12 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Div 1 (Richmond) – VSP investigated two crashes.
Div 2 (Culpeper – NWVA) – VSP investigated one crash.
Div 3 (Appomattox – Central/West Va.) – VSP investigated two crashes.
Div. 4 (Wytheville – SWVA) – VSP investigated one crash.
Div. 5 (Chesapeake – Hampton Roads) – VSP investigated two crashes, one with reported injuries.
Div. 6 (Salem – Western Va.) – VSP investigated two crashes.
Div 7 (NOVA) – VSP investigated four crashes, one with reported injuries.
VSP Winter Travel Advice
Virginia State Police remind motorists that while it’s always best to avoid travel during storms, the following guidelines are suggested for those who absolutely must be on the roads during a winter weather event:
Use headlights. Increasing your visibility helps you to avoid slick and dangerous spots on the road, as well as helps other drivers see you better.
Slow your speed. Though state police work closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to identify problem areas on Virginia’s highways during a winter storm, drivers still must drive for conditions. Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash. Drive your vehicle based on your ability to properly maintain control of your vehicle.
Don’t tailgate. You need increased stopping distance on slick road surfaces. Give yourself more space between vehicles traveling ahead of you to avoid rear end collisions.
Buckle Up. Most crashes that occur during winter weather are caused by vehicles sliding into guardrails, off the road or other vehicles. Wearing your seat belt protects you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash.
Check Your Vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order for the conditions. Fill up the tank in advance. Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire tread, battery life, etc.
Don’t leave home without a window scraper, blanket, bottled water, snack, cell phone charger and flashlight.
Virginia State Police provide statewide law enforcement services and work in conjunction with local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.
In major crash scenes and/or crash scenes involving fatalities, the VSP Accident Reconstruction Team assists troopers with incident investigation and documentation.