The Pennsylvania Turnpike has reopened after a string of multi-vehicle crashes this morning that left at least nine people were injured.
The Turnpike re-opened at 5:15 p.m.
According to Renee Colburn of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the crashes took place at around 9:12 a.m. between mile markers 287.5 and 290.2 between the Reading and Morgantown interchanges. The turnpike was shut down between those two interchanges for most of the day.
In the first crash, she said, a PennDot plow truck treating the snowy road surface was struck from the rear.
'They were plowing and salting at the time, and three vehicles hit it from behind,' Colburn said.
Several more multi-vehicle crashes happened soon afterward, just half a mile away. Colburn had no details on those accidents, but said the total number of vehicles involved was 'at least 35.'
'Until the State Police finish their investigation, we can't give an exact number,' Colburn said.
All of the accidents were in the westbound lanes, but the eastbound lanes were also closed for a time as police cleared jammed traffic by U-turning them back to Morgantown. Tolls for motorists caught in the traffic jam were waived.
Colburn said 'nine or 10' people were taken to hospitals and that number 'could change.' She did not know the severity of the injuries.
Dozens of accidents were reported on the roadways this morning as snow was quickly laying on the roads.
Use caution and expect delays around the county.
Lancaster City Mayor Rick Gray said city road maintenance crews were called in this morning and were out treating city roads at about 9 a.m.
'This sort of caught us by surprise,' Gray said. 'No one was anticipating an accumulation.'
The Red Rose Transit Authority bus service was shut down until road conditions improved. The RRTA has announced that it will resume operation at 11:30 a.m.
Gockley said that even emergency verhicles are having problems getting to accident locations due to road conditions.
'This kind of caught everybody by surprise,' Gockley said. 'Use extreme caution' on the roadways.
In an incident on the turnpike, county communications reported a multi-vehicle accident. Number of cars involved and injuries are unknown.
Another accident on the turnpike, in Brecknock Township, was reported with major trauma, according to an alert. The accident is on the eastbound side of the turnpike at Reading Road. The alert advised to avoid the PA turnpike eastbound.
In East Hempfield Township on Route 30 westbound at Centerville Road, fire police have shut down the left lane due to an accident.
One accident on Route 76 west and Panorama Drive in Brecknock Township involved a tractor trailer.
In an earlier accident, fire police shut down Route 30 west at Prospect Road.
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, December 26, 2013 - Rating: 4.5
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