A 37-year-old Virginia man lost his life Tuesday night after his pickup truck crashed into a stopped commercial truck on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County. Justin Michael Johnson, of Chesterfield County, died at the scene of the collision, which happened in the southbound lanes near mile marker 62.8, just south of Route 288.
According to Virginia State Police, the crash happened shortly after 10:15 p.m. on November 3, 2026. A trooper had been dispatched to the area following reports of a disabled vehicle that was creating a traffic hazard. However, before the trooper could arrive, another driver became involved in a collision that would end Johnson’s life.
Investigators said Johnson was driving a 2015 GMC Sierra southbound when it struck the rear of a stopped 2012 International 4400 truck. The larger truck had stopped behind a disabled 2015 Chrysler 200 after its driver pulled over to check on the stranded motorist.
The driver of the International had reportedly stopped to help the person in the Chrysler and report the situation. Its emergency warning lights were activated when the GMC Sierra struck it. The circumstances leading to the collision remain under investigation.
Johnson suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the International truck and the Chrysler were not injured, according to the information provided by state police.
What began as an ordinary night on the highway ended with a family losing someone they loved. Johnson was only 37. His death has left those who knew him facing the painful reality of a life cut short in a matter of seconds.
For the people who stopped that night to help a stranded motorist, the situation also took an unexpected turn. A roadside stop meant to assist someone in need became the scene of a fatal collision.
Virginia State Police are continuing to investigate the crash and establish exactly what happened before the impact. For now, Johnson’s death stands as a painful reminder of how quickly conditions on a busy highway can change.
Our thoughts are with Justin Michael Johnson’s family, friends and everyone affected by his death.