An Aggressive Advocate, When You Need It Most.

Fiery truck accident shuts down Pa. interstate for 12 hours

Published on Feb 5, 2020 at 6:04 pm in truck accidents.

Authorities continue to investigate a two-vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer and another vehicle that occurred early Saturday morning on Interstate 83 in Pennsylvania. Both vehicles became engulfed in flames after fuel from the tractor-trailer leaked onto the highway and caught fire. Law enforcement shut down the interstate for vehicle removal and HAZMAT cleanup. It was over 12 hours before the northbound lanes partially reopened to traffic.

For reasons that are still unclear, the northbound tractor-trailer struck a concrete barrier after veering off the road. Damage to the fuel tanks occurred, causing fuel to leak out onto the highway where it later ignited, when the tractor-trailer skidded across the top of the barrier.

The tractor-trailer then hit the center median and rolled over after traveling across both northbound lanes. Meanwhile, another vehicle, containing a 29-year-old female driver and a male passenger of indeterminate age, ran into the tractor-trailer’s debris. Both vehicles caught on fire as a result of the spilled fuel from the tractor-trailer.

There was no transport to the hospital for the occupants of the other vehicle, and it is unclear whether they sustained any injury. The driver of the tractor-trailer did sustain minor injuries and went to the hospital in the care of responders.

It is unclear what initially caused the tractor-trailer to veer off the road. Authorities have not commented on whether speed, impairment or road conditions may have played a part, nor have they announced any intention to file criminal charges. Those adversely affected by a truck accident may wish to have a discussion with an attorney.

Request Attorney Consultation

Call us or fill out the form below to schedule a confidential case evaluation. We can help you determine if you need a lawyer, if you have a potential case, and if so, what your next step should be.

Legal & Firm News

Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws

For over 60 years, motor vehicle crashes were the single leading cause of death for children in the United States. Only in very recent years has firearm injuries overtaken the top place, with car crashes remaining in the leading first or second positions in the past few years of research. Following all Pennsylvania car seat […]

Read More

10 Safety Tips for Your Next Family Outing

Planning a day out for your family? At Stapp Law, LLC, we want everyone to be safe when exploring Williamsport, Lycoming County, or anywhere else in Pennsylvania. That’s why we’ve compiled our top 10 safety tips for your next family outing.

Read More

Who Bears Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident?

Most of us are so focused on completing our task at hand that we don’t take extra time to look for every potential hazard in our path. However, not doing so comes with some downsides, one of which includes the risk of slipping and falling and getting seriously hurt. You may be surprised to learn […]

Read More