October 23, 2023
SOURCE/6ABC TWITTER
Three people died after a tanker truck carrying jet fuel crashed into two cars on the Northeast Extension of the Pa. Turnpike on Saturday, sparking a fire and shutting down traffic for several hours.
A third person was confirmed dead on Sunday following a fiery three-vehicle crash that happened on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Montgomery County on Saturday morning. The incident happened just before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday on the turnpike's Northeast Extension when a tanker truck carrying flammable liquid collided with two cars that were stopped in the right lane of the highway.
The deadly crash reportedly unfolded after a motorist stopped in the right lane of the Northeast Extension due to a flat tire, according to multiple news reports. A second motorist then pulled up behind the disabled vehicle and put on their hazard lights in an effort to help them.
A large tanker truck marked with the words 'jet fuel' on the side then reportedly approached the vehicles from behind and, unable to stop or change lanes lanes in time, crashed into the cars. The collision sparked a sizable fire that stretched along a short stretch of the highway and engulfed the vehicles in flames, according to cellphone video footage captured by another motorist.
One of the motorists and the driver of the tanker truck were both confirmed dead on the scene, according to initial news reports. The body of a third person was later pulled from the wreckage as crews continued to clean up and assess the damage, Pennsylvania State Police said.
The driver of the car with a flat tire was still hospitalized as of early Monday morning.
The crash, which happened between the Mid-County and Lansdale exits, shut down both the north and southbound lanes of the turnpike for several hours as first responders put out the flames and assess the toll of the accident.
The identities of the individuals killed in the accident have not been released as of Monday morning.
Firefighters are on scene of a tanker truck fire on North Extension of the PA # Turnpike in Montgomery Co. At least one injured . -not for broadcast pic.twitter.com/Kot2hEvrJQ
— News Guy Philly (@NewsguyPhilly) October 21, 2023
