Car Accident on I-78 in Pennsylvania Leaves Three People Dead, More Than 40 Injured
A major car accident on a Pennsylvania highway during the recent winter storm resulted in multiple fatalities and garnered news headlines across the nation.
The accident occurred on Interstate 78, near Fredericksburg PA and just outside Harrisburg. More than 50 cars were involved in the highway pileup, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Although state officials anticipated the poor road conditions and the National Weather Service warned drivers to be careful on Philadelphia-area roadways in advance of the storm, the weather was even worse than anticipated. Due to strong winds and poor visibility, drivers on I-78 were unable to avoid crashing into one another. According to The Weather Channel, winds were blowing at more than 30 mph at the time of the highway accident. Moreover, weather reports indicated that visibility on that stretch of the highway was less than two miles.
One of the vehicles involved in the accident was a bus carrying members of the Penn State Lehigh Valley men’s basketball team. The team was on its way to a basketball game in New Kensington, PA when, according to the driver, a tractor trailer slammed into the bus.
Emergency personnel rushed to the accident scene and provided assistance to all of the accident victims, including people in buses, cars, vans, and trucks. Early reports indicated that 40 people were taken to area hospitals, such as Penn State Hershey Medical Center, to be treated for accident-related injuries. Additionally, three people died as a result of critical injuries sustained in the motor vehicle accidents.
After the accident, law enforcement shut down all lanes of Interstate 78, on both sides, throughout Lebanon County, PA. Meanwhile, many of the vehicles involved in the car crashes were still stuck on the roadway the next day.
Anyone who has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, whether it’s a single-vehicle car accident, a head-on collision, or a motorcycle accident, needs to make sure that their health comes first. Once you’ve been checked out by a doctor and received the medical attention you need, it is imperative that you talk to a qualified personal injury attorney to explore your legal options for getting compensated for injuries and property damage sustained in the car accident.
For additional information about the recent Pennsylvania highway accident, view the following article: Fatal Pileup Shuts Pennsylvania Interstate amid Strong Winds