Five people have died and about 60 others have been injured in an early-morning crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Townsh...
Five people have died and about 60 others have been injured in an early-morning crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township, authorities said.
The crash involving at least two tractor-trailers, a tour bus and passenger vehicles occurred about 3:30 a.m. Sunday near mile marker 86 on the westbound side of the highway, officials said. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha confirmed the fatalities.
The turnpike is closed in both directions between the Breezewood (Exit 161) and New Stanton (Exit 75) interchanges.
The tour bus flipped on its side, turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said.
Numerous ambulance companies from Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties sent units to transport the victims, following the protocol for a “mass casualty incident,” said Westmoreland County Public Safety Director Bud Mertz.
Those who were injured were taken to numerous hospitals in the region, a Westmoreland Department of Public Safety supervisor said. DeFebo said three Westmoreland County hospitals received victims.
Twenty-five people ranging in age from 7 to 52 were being evaluated at Excela Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, said Excela Health spokeswoman Robin Jennings. Two patients are expected to be transferred to a trauma hospital, Jennings said. Nine of the 25 patients are under the age of 18, she said.
Eleven victims were taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. One is in critical condition, and the others are in fair condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
UPMC Somerset received 18 patients: 12 adults and 6 under the age of 18, according to a UPMC spokeswoman. All have been treated and released.
Angela Maynard, a tractor-trailer driver from Kentucky, said she was traveling eastbound on the turnpike about 3:30 a.m. when she and her driving partner came upon the scene.
“I looked up at that hill there, and I could see lights. It looked like a lot of them,” said Maynard, who called 911. “There was no fire, just a lot of smoke at that point.”
She and her co-driver got out of their truck to see if anyone was hurt. She could see one person lying on the ground, and another trapped in their truck.
“It was horrible,” she said. “I was trying to make sure everyone was OK.
“I walked toward the scene and saw one of the truck drivers laying near the barrier. I tried to keep him occupied, keep talking, until medical help arrived. He was in bad shape. He was floating in and out of consciousness.”
The roads were wet from snow but not especially icy, she said.
Once first responders arrived, Maynard and other drivers were told to keep driving and clear the scene before the turnpike closed.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators have been called the scene, DeFebo said.
Three deputy coroners also were on scene, Bacha said.
Debris caused the eastbound lanes of the turnpike to be closed.
WB Detour at Breezewood: I-70 east (Washington, DC) (24 miles) to exit 1A (68/40 West, Cumberland, Maryland) (65.5 miles) to Exit 14B (Uniontown) following 40 west to US 119 north (63 miles) to Exit 1B (PA Turnpike). Re-enter the PA Turnpike @New Stanton. #paturnpike @PA_Turnpike twitter.com/PATurnpikeAler…
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