One person is dead after a vehicle flipped on Interstate 76 early Thursday morning, snarling traffic for miles as officials investigated the crash.
A driver unsafely changed lanes while heading east on I-76 beween Montgomery Drive and Girard Avenue, near milepost 342.2, around 5:15 a.m., according to police.
As the vehicle moved from the left lane to the center and then the right lane, it struck the back left corner of another car, which had already moved from the center to the right lane to avoid the crash, officials said.
The force of the crash pushed both vehicles onto the shoulder and up a hill that borders the expressway, investigators said. The striking car flipped over on the grass, trapping the driver, who was not wearing his seatbelt, according to police.
Medical personnel rushed to free the driver, but the motorist was killed in the crash. It is unclear if the other driver suffered any injuries.
More than three hours after the accident occurred, the victim's body remained at the scene while authorities continued their investigation.
Police blocked all eastbound lanes, as well as one westbound lane, for more than an hour following the deadly accident.
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Crews began directing eastbound vehicles to turn around and head west in the shoulder around 5:45 a.m.
Officials closed the ramps leading into the accident scene around 6:15 a.m. to prevent more vehicles from entering the roadway. Next they started permitting one lane of traffic -- those cars stuck behind the crash -- to pass.
Traffic remained backed up to the exit for Belmont Avenue/Green Lane, roughly a 5-mile jam, throughout the entire morning rush hour.
