Overnight wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 shuts down traffic in Hempfield Township
Interstate 70 was shut down for several hours on Tuesday morning due to an overnight wrong-way crash involving a tractor-trailer in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.
Dispatchers said that Interstate 70 was closed in both directions due to a multi-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer that happened just before 12:45 a.m. near Exit 54 for Yukon. Several hours later, some westbound traffic began moving through the area.
PennDOT officials said in an update before 9:30 a.m. that the eastbound closure is expected to remain in place until noon. Then, a single-lane restriction will be implemented until the jersey barrier is repaired.
Fiery crash shuts down I-70 for hours
A first responder at the scene of the crash provided photos showing the massive amount of debris and damage left behind and said the crash involved three tractor-trailers and an SUV.
Pennsylvania State Police responding to the scene said the SUV was going the wrong way, traveling west on the eastbound side. The driver of the SUV was later identified as Daniel Oliver, 80, of Greensburg.
Troopers described the SUV as it struck one tractor-trailer first.
"Almost pinballing between two tractor-trailers, hitting a third one," Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said.
The Fort Allen Volunteer Fire Company said that crews responding to the crash found a semi-trailer truck that was hauling produce and was fully engulfed in flames. This was the first tractor-trailer that was struck in the crash.
An aerial view of the crash from the KDKA Drone Team showed traffic on the interstate backed up in both directions for at least one mile.
It's unclear at this time what led up to the crash, but officials said defensive driving saved the truck drivers' lives.
"It doesn't matter if you are on [Interstate] 70, 79, [Route] 19, or a local road. You have no idea what might be coming at you, whether it's an animal, a deer, a wrong-way driver, a drunk driver," Trooper Gagliardi said.
Oliver's blood is being tested at an area hospital.
One person was treated at the scene for their injuries, while two others were taken to an area hospital. Those transported to the hospital were last listed in stable condition, Trooper Gagliardi confirmed to KDKA-TV.
"We are very lucky that we are just getting treated for injuries here. We don't know how we don't have a three-way fatal," Trooper Gagliardi said.
Troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police out of the Belle Vernon barracks will lead the investigation into the crash.
