Truck crashes after tire blowout, kills driver

Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a line-painting truck on Interstate 81 in Augusta County. Spokeswoman Corinne Geller says the truck wasn't painting when the crash occurred at 7:05 a.m. Friday in the northbound lanes near Spottswood. The truck was headed to a work site in Nelson County. Geller says the truck's right front tire blew out and the driver lost control. The truck then hit a guardrail and overturned. The adult male driver died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt. The driver's name wasn't immediately released. A male passenger was taken to Augusta Health Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. According to Virginia State Police, the truck driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Another person took the seat belt off when they tried to administer aid to the truck driver. The name of the truck driver is Edwin M. Tam of Troutville, Va. He was 59-years-old. Tam worked for Sandras Marking Company based out of Buchanan.