According to Clarion-based State Police, around 7:15 a.m., a 2015 Chevy Silverado (towing a trailer) was traveling west on I-80 at approximately 69.9 mile marker. The driver fell asleep and traveled off the north side of the road. The driver woke up to the sound of the rumble strips. The driver yanked the wheel to the left and crossed both lanes of travel.
Police say the Silverado traveled into the median and impacted some small trees. It then continued in a southwesterly direction into the oncoming traffic lane (eastbound) and struck a 2016 Honda CRV head-on. After impact, the Honda – operated by Rakesh Humar, 39, of Erie, – went airborne and landed approximately 30 feet off the roadway behind the guide rails. The Honda came to a final rest on its roof facing west.
The Silverado came to a final rest across both eastbound lanes.
Four occupants of the Honda were flown to Pittsburgh area hospitals, according to police.
Sources say six ambulances from Clarion Hospital, Shippenville, and Jefferson County and four stat MedEvac helicopters responded to the scene.
Brookville and Clarion Fire Departments were also on the scene.
The roadway remained closed for over four hours due to the scene being reconstructed. Traffic was detoured at Exit 64 into Clarion onto Route 322 East to Exit 70. Traffic was also rerouted to Route 28 to New Bethlehem and north to Brookville, police say.
The occupants names are being withheld due to the seriousness of the crash and due to some of the occupants being from out of the country. The names will be released when appropriate notifications have been made, according to police.