A fiery tractor-trailer crash completely closed the Capital Beltway for hours Thursday afternoon in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Virginia.
All lanes of the Beltway reopened by about 4:45 p.m., and the miles-long traffic backup quickly cleared.
The truck was traveling on the Inner Loop about 1:40 p.m. when it struck the jersey wall, overturned and became engulfed in flames just east of Interstate 395.
The bulk of the fire has been put out, but crews continue dealing with hot spots, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
The driver of the truck is OK.
On Friday, Virginia State Police said he was charged with reckless driving for failing to maintain control of the vehicle. Police did not identify the driver.
The truck went partially over the wall into the Outer Loop and spilled some of its load of insulation, which is not considered hazardous material.
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All lanes of the Beltway were closed for about 90 minutes before they began reopening.
Metro said it added cars and trains on the Blue Line to accommodate commuters affected by the crash.
Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Transportation also responded to the crash.
A tanker truck crash closed the Inner Loop for about 12 hours a week ago, causing a traffic ripple effect on roads throughout the area.
About 1:50 p.m. March 28, the tanker overturned at the American Legion Memorial Bridge. Crews had to remove 8,500 gallons of fuel before the tanker could be removed from the area and the Inner Loop could be reopened about 2:30 a.m.
