Brakes could be to blame for crash that killed trucker hauling pumpkins

Authorities in Virginia are investigating a serious semi truck crash that claimed the life of a truck driver yesterday.

The crash occurred in Smyth County, Virginia, just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Authorities say that the responded to the intersection of Whitetop Road and Ramblewood Road to find a semi truck loaded up with pumpkins that “ran over a guardrail into a culvert, then climbed an embankment and overturned.”

The truck driver was trapped inside with wrecked vehicle.

Rescue crews worked for two hours to free the driver from the truck.

The truck driver was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he later passed away.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Virginia State Police, but authorities believe the the truck’s brakes failed, causing the driver to lose control.