Wilkes-Barre, PA – A horrific multi-vehicle accident involving a 24-wheeler semi-truck claimed the lives of four people and left several others critically injured on Interstate 80 early this morning.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the tractor-trailer was traveling eastbound near mile marker 262 when the driver lost control, causing the truck to jackknife across the median and into the westbound lanes. The 24-wheeler slammed into three passenger vehicles, triggering a devastating chain reaction crash.
“It was just a devastating scene of twisted metal and debris scattered across the highway,” said Trooper James Williams, one of the first responders on the site. “The impact utterly demolished two of the cars involved.”
Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, while a fourth victim succumbed to their injuries shortly after arriving at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Five other motorists were rushed to area trauma centers in critical condition.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but authorities stated that weather does not appear to be a factor. Traffic on I-80 was shut down for over 8 hours as emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage.
“This is just an absolute tragedy,” said Highway Patrol Captain Maria Gonzalez. “Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families impacted by this horrible accident.”
The truck driver, who has not yet been publicly identified, survived the crash and is cooperating with investigators. Charges are pending as the probe continues into the circumstances that led to this deadly incident.
