23-year-old Chesterfield woman dies after fiery I-295 crash in Henrico

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A 23-year-old Chesterfield County woman is dead after a crash on Interstate 295 in Henrico County left her trapped in a vehicle that went up in flames early Thursday morning. According to the Virginia State Police, troopers were called to a crash on I-295 at the Route 60 and I-64 exit near the Richmond International Airport just before 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 9. Police said a preliminary investigation reveals that 23-year-old Skylar Mackenzie Vargo of South Chesterfield was driving a Hyundai in the northbound lanes of I-295 when it crashed into a tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer crossed through the median and into the southbound lanes before coming to a stop. Authorities said Vargo was trapped in the vehicle, which became engulfed in flames. She was removed from the Hyundai and was taken to a local hospital, where she died. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team and Motor Carrier Safety Team responded to assist with the investigation, with hazardous materials crews also responding to the scene due to the tractor-trailer leaking diesel fuel and oil. For several hours, both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-295 were closed following the crash, but all roads reopened at about 7 a.m. Thursday. No additional information is available at this time, but officials continue to investigate the crash.