GETGO GAS TANKER
GOES AIRBORNE IN 3-VEHICLE CRASH ON INTERSTATE 79 NEAR THE WEXFORD INTERCHANGE
All lanes open again following accident near Wexford; 2
children, 2 adults taken to hospitals.
FRANKLIN PARK, Pa. —A serious three-vehicle crash
involving a gasoline tanker truck shut down all lanes of Interstate 79 near the
Wexford interchange Wednesday morning and sent four people to the hospital,
including two little girls.
A three-vehicle crash involving a GetGo gasoline tanker
truck shut down all lanes of Interstate 79 near the Wexford interchange and
sent four people to the hospital, including two girls.
Traffic was at a standstill while state police and
emergency responders worked at the scene of the crash, which happened at 9:45
a.m. Thousands of drivers stuck in the shutdown were frustrated and had no idea
how two children and three adults escaped with their lives.
"It absolutely ruined my day. I had an appointment
in Evans City. I sat there for about an hour and a half," said Mark
McLaughlin, of Brookline.
It was a freakish accident: A southbound sedan spun out
of control, and the tanker truck hit it, then went airborne over the guiderail
and careened across three northbound lanes before crashing, only to be hit by a
northbound SUV driven by a woman traveling with her two small daughters in the
back seat.
The gas tanker was empty and the girls, ages 5 and 19
months, were secured in their child safety seats, Trooper Robin Mungo said.
"It didn't appear as though they needed immediate
medical attention, but because of the nature of the incident and because of
their age, they were transported for observation," Mungo said.
Rescuers freed the girls' mother, Kelly Blais, 35, of
Pittsburgh, from her damaged SUV. At the family's request, Children's Hospital
of Pittsburgh of UPMC is not releasing updates on the girls' conditions. Blais
was taken to Allegheny General Hospital with minor injuries.
Trucker Bruce Crawford, 59, of Beaver Falls, was taken
to UPMC Passvant Hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the sedan, Kimberly Sperring, 52, of Mars, was not hurt and didn't have to go to the hospital.
"I'm glad nobody got (seriously) hurt, especially kids," said McLaughlin when he learned the details. "Thank goodness for that," he said.
The driver of the sedan, Kimberly Sperring, 52, of Mars, was not hurt and didn't have to go to the hospital.
"I'm glad nobody got (seriously) hurt, especially kids," said McLaughlin when he learned the details. "Thank goodness for that," he said.
All lanes were reopened shortly after 12:30 p.m.
"I guess the icy conditions this morning must have
been really bad. We came northbound. It wasn't so bad this morning," said
Chad Pennington, of Washington County, when he learned of the accident at a
nearby gas station.
"It tends to freeze over, so you have to be extremely careful, even when you think the roads a clear, there's always the possibility of black ice," said Mungo.
"It tends to freeze over, so you have to be extremely careful, even when you think the roads a clear, there's always the possibility of black ice," said Mungo.
The trooper said state police are investigating to
determine if weather conditions played a role in the crash and if any drivers
will be cited. Sperring told police she did not know why she lost control of
her car.