Monday, June 1, 2015

2 dead in fiery tractor-trailer crash that shut I-78 in Upper Saucon, Pennsylvania


I78&Rt145 crash with debris
Interstate 78 is closed in both directions at Exit 60 in Upper Saucon Township after a tractor-trailer crashed at 1 a.m., leading to two deaths, authorities say. (PennDOT traffic camera photo)


June 01, 2015




Two people died in a crash just before 1 a.m. Monday on Interstate 78 East in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim confirmed just after 6 a.m.

The highway was closed in both directions after debris spilled into the westbound lanes.

As of 6:30, traffic was being exited at the Route 145/Route 309 interchange at Exit 60, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation traffic camera shows.

Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville said a man and a woman died in the crash involving two tractor-trailers.

A tractor-trailer hit the center median at 12:51 a.m. and then a bridge support, police said in a news release. The driver and a passenger were killed in that truck, police said. The truck caught fire, Grim said.

A second truck, trying to avoid the crash, was struck in the trailer by the trailer of the first truck, police said. That driver was not hurt, police said.

The names of the dead will be released after next of kin are notified, police said.
WFMZ said in a live report that a bridge must be checked before the highway could be reopened.

A PennDOT spokesman said he was checking with the bridge department to get more information. The bridge carries Route 309 North traffic, so that stretch of highway is being detoured as well, WFMZ said.

Initial reports indicated it was raining heavily at the time of the crash.

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com