CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Interstate 80 Westbound in Clarion County has re-opened following an 18-vehicle accident that left two people dead.
Photos courtesy Bauer Truck Repair
Police say the accident happened around 2:00 p.m. near mile marker 65.
Two men were killed as a result of the crash, and both fatalities occurred after the victims exited their vehicles, according to police.
One of the men, a 67-year-old tractor-trailer driver, from Nancy, KY, died after he got out to help others. His identity is being withheld pending notification to family members.
The other victim – 35-year-old Timothy Floravit, of Beaver Falls – was badly injured when he was thrown into the steering wheel of his vehicle, and then died of his injuries after he got out of the vehicle in an attempt to help his children who were ejected, according to Clarion County Coroner Terry Shaffer.
Shaffer said Mr. Floravit’s wife, age 33, was in the car along with the two children. The extent of their injuries are unknown.
Clarion County Office of Emergency Services reported approximately 30 people were injured in the accident and were taken to area hospitals.
Julie Kunselman, director of marketing and physician recruitment at Clarion Hospital, said Clarion Hospital treated about 20 people.
People were treated for fractures and head and neck injuries at Clarion Hospital. Some were discharged; others, with serious injuries, were transferred to other hospitals, according to Kunselman.
Clarion State Police say the following vehicles were involved in the accident:
-9 Tractor Trailers
-9 Personal Vehicles
Included in the 9 Tractor Trailers listed above are the following:
-1 Tanker no placard, not leaking
-2 Empty Tractor Trailers
-1 UPS double Trailer with unknown Haz-Mat material not leaking
-5 Other Tractor trailers unknown cargo
Interstate 80 was closed for over 10 hours as a result of the accident.
Traffic was detoured off of I-80 Westbound at Exit 70 – Strattanville to SR 322 West to Clarion.
Clarion State Police, Clarion Fire Department, Emlenton EMS, Jefferson County EMS, Strattanville Fire Department, Clarion Co. EMA, Clarion EMS, Southern Clarion EMS, DEP, Penn-Dot, and Bauer Truck Repair assisted at the scene.
Investigators have not determined what caused the chain-reaction collision; however, the accident appears to be weather-related. PennDOT issued an alert yesterday urging motorists to be cautious during a dangerous snow squall.
Photos courtesy Bauer Truck Repair
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