Car Hits Mattress, Leading to Another Fatal Crash

Investigators are piecing together what happened before the crash, he said. "We're trying to get a timeline and trying to retrace their route in order to determine where they got on the interstate," he said.

Police are also investigating the second crash, which they believe happened after a mattress fell off what they described as "a light-colored, older-model conversion van -- similar to a Dodge Caravan."

Richard R. Moon, 58, of Herndon, who was driving a box truck, was able to swerve and miss the mattress. But the Isuzu could not avoid it and ran off the road.

After the crash, witnesses saw the van pulled over to the side of the road, according to police, who said they want to talk to the driver.

Anyone who has information is asked to call state police at 703-323-4522 or e-mail area09@vsp.virginia.gov.

Staff writer Ylan Q. Mui contributed to this report.