All lanes of I-80 reopened in Union County after deadly 58-vehicle collision
UNION CO. (WOLF) — 12/19/19 UPDATE #2: I-80 is completely reopened after Wednesday's deadly crash in Union County. The westbound lanes reopened around 5:30 pm, according to PennDOT.
Representatives tell FOX56 a total of 58 vehicles were involved.
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12/19/19 UPDATE: County coroners have confirmed Edward Posavec, 53, of Hatfield, Pa and Marek Szczepanczyk, 58, of Sterling Heights, MI as the two victims in yesterday's deadly I-80 crash in Union County, Pennsylvania.
PennDOT says the westbound lanes remain closed, though they are hopeful to get them cleared by tonight.
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11:00 PM UPDATE: The Montour County coroner confirms another man had died after the multi-vehicle crash on I-80 in Union County. He passed away after being taken to Geisinger Danville for treatment.
The identities of the two victims are not currently being released.
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UPDATE: Snow squalls throughout Northeast and central Pennsylvania Wednesday left roads a mess.
In Union County a man died after a crash involving about 30 vehicles.
I-80 had to be shut down between the Williamsport and Lock Haven exits for hours.
Tractor trailers, tangled up. Police tell FOX56 that around 1 pm a snow squall hit the area, leaving behind a mess on I-80.
"It's one of those things where first you see a few snowflakes and you think oh this isn't anything and then you see just suddenly a blanket of white," said State College resident Dawn Rosenbaum.
It set off a chain reaction of about 20 tractor trailers and 10 other vehicles crushed together.
"A lot of people were doing the thing where when we all put on our brakes, some people drive off the side of the road just to not hit the other person in front of them and then we came to a complete standstill," said Rosenbaum.
Drivers like Rosenbaum were stuck on the highway, as miles of I-80 were closed in both directions for hours.
A pile up that led to one man's death.
The state of the vehicles so bad that crews still hadn't been able to get his body out, hours later.
"It's going to be a while before we can get access to the scene," said Domenick Adamo, the Union County coroner. "Too many vehicles strewn across the road right now and they're looking at the safety of the first responders getting in there."
Dozens of other victims. The 911 center says a LifeFlight was dispatched.
37 people were brought to Evangelical Community Hospital, some by school and charter bus.
The hospital says at least three of them were transferred to other facilities to get more intensive care.
Ted Vaught was on his way to Ohio when the crash happened.
"We just prayed that they wouldn't run into us," Vaught said. "The fellow behind us stopped well behind us but then he got run into by a tractor trailer from behind him. Then another one."
He is feeling grateful to have escapes all this with just a bump on his car.
"We were the lucky ones," Vaught said.
I-80 eastbound has now been reopened.
State police say they don't have any estimate on when the westbound lanes will reopen.
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UPDATE: The coroner has confirmed one man is dead after a multi-vehicle crash in Union County happened due to a snow squall.
It is estimated that 20 tractor-trailers were involved, and 10 other vehicles.
Rescue 3 from Mifflinburg Hose company was tasked with the extraction of a person from their vehicle.
It took them approximately 1.5 hours until the patient was out and transported.
I-80 continues to be shut down in both directions between exit 212 and 178 and is expected to be for hours.
PennDot has issued the following suggested detours:
- I-80 Eastbound traffic between US-220 and I-180 use the following detour: I-80 Westbound to US-220 Northbound to I-180 Eastbound to I-80 Eastbound.
- I-80 Westbound traffic between I-180 and US-220 use the following detour: I-80 Westbound to I-180 Westbound to US-220 Southbound to I-80 Westbound.
More updates to come.
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Crews are currently on I-80 near mile-marker 202 for a reported accident.
FOX56's Viktoria Hallikaar reports that there may be up to 30 cars involved in this crash
It's been reported that there are multiple injuries and possible entrapment.
Life flight is coming in to help get some of the victims.
All lanes are closed. Updates to come.
