Derek P. Volkmer Obituary, STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — Derek P. Volkmer, 40, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, has died following a tractor-trailer crash on northbound Interstate 95 near Exit 140 at Courthouse Road in Stafford County, Virginia, on Thursday morning, September 3, 2026. Virginia State Police identified Volkmer as the driver involved in the fatal crash.
According to investigators, Volkmer was operating a tractor-trailer pulling a flatbed when the vehicle left the right side of the interstate. The tractor-trailer then struck the Courthouse Road overpass before overturning. Volkmer was pronounced dead at the scene.
The circumstances that caused the tractor-trailer to leave the roadway have not been determined. Authorities have not released a specific cause for the crash, and the inquiry remains ongoing. No information has been provided indicating that another vehicle was involved.
Emergency crews responded to the crash site as authorities worked to secure the area and manage the overturned tractor-trailer. The incident resulted in significant traffic disruption along northbound I-95, with lanes closed for several hours while emergency responders and transportation crews carried out their work.
The crash also caused backups extending for miles, affecting I-95 as well as Route 1 and nearby secondary roads. The Virginia Department of Transportation initially stated that two of the three northbound lanes were closed near Exit 140, leaving one lane available to passing motorists.
As cleanup and recovery operations continued, additional lanes were reopened. By the afternoon, VDOT stated that all northbound lanes at the Exit 140 interchange had reopened, bringing the major traffic restrictions caused by the crash to an end.
The sudden loss of Derek P. Volkmer has left those who knew him facing the loss of a 40-year-old Maryland resident whose life ended unexpectedly. Further details about his life, family, career, or funeral arrangements have not been publicly offered.
Derek P. Volkmer will be remembered by those whose lives he touched, while authorities go on working to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. May he rest in peace, and may his relatives, friends, and loved ones receive comfort and strength during this difficult time.