Crash Shuts Down Part of Pa. Turnpike

A fiery chain-reaction crash involving a dozen vehicles shut down part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Nov. 7, 2003

BLUE BELL, Pa. (AP) -- A fiery chain-reaction crash involving a dozen vehicles shut down part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Thursday, police said. Five people were injured, but no one was killed.

``That's because people are tough and because they're real lucky,'' state police Sgt. Robert Foose said.

Police said a tractor-trailer crashed and caught fire, and smoke from the burning rig obscured the vision of other drivers. The 12 vehicles caught up in the crash included two tractor-trailers and three dump trucks.

Rescuers worked more than 4 1/2 hours to free a driver trapped in the wreckage of one rig.

The injured were taken to Abington Memorial Hospital, where officials declined to release their conditions.