Five people are confirmed dead after a multi-vehicle accident in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Foster Twp. during a snow squall Monday morning.
The sudden onset of heavy snow coupled with fog in the area proved a dangerous combination as tractor-trailers, trucks and passenger vehicles slammed into one another. The impact caused at least one tractor-trailer to catch fire; another truck carrying acetylene cylinders was near the blaze.
The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. just north of the Minersville exit, Exit 116.
Emergency personnel said that as many as 40 vehicles may have been involved.
Authorities reported that, as of 3:50 p.m., five people were known to be dead, and workers continued to search vehicles for other victims.
As several firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, others walked from crushed vehicle to crushed vehicle, checking on occupants and treating the injured.
A mass casualty center was set up on the property of the Wegmans Distribution Center near the crash site.
State police are beginning the complicated investigation as to what caused the crash, which is believed to be weather-related.
The American Red Cross, Greater Pennsylvania Region, Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter, Allentown, responded to provide resources and assistance to affected motorists.
Red Cross Disaster Team members, in coordination with local officials and emergency responders, established a reception center to provide a safe and warm central hub for motorists and their families to receive information, blankets, food and drinks.
Firefighters originally shut down the northbound lanes at the Hegins exit, mile marker 112, but later moved the closure south, shutting the highway at the Tremont exit, mile marker 107.
Southbound traffic was brought to a standstill at the Highridge exit, mile marker 119, and later pushed back to the Frackville exit, mile marker 124. Southbound lanes reopened about 5 p.m.
Also closed at some point was Keystone Boulevard in the Highridge Industrial Park, Gordon Mountain Road and Route 901 in both directions, toward Minersville and into Barry Twp. As of 3:45 p.m. Gordon Mountain Road was open.
The northbound lanes of the interstate are expected to be closed for an indefinite amount of time.
On Feb. 19, a crash involving around 40 vehicles shut down a 3-mile stretch of I-81 in the northbound lanes some 20 miles north, near mile marker 139, between Exit 138 ( McAdoo/ Tamaqua) and Exit 141 ( Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Beltway). Five people suffered minor injuries, authorities reported at the time.
That crash also occurred during a snow squall that caused whiteout conditions.
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