David Chang

2 Die in Chain Reaction Crash Involving 5 Tractor-Trailers on I-78 in Berks County, Pennsylvania

In all, 5 tractor-trailers and one passenger vehicle were involved. Two of the big rigs and the passenger vehicle also caught fire.

What to Know

  • At least one person was killed after a chain reaction crash involving several tractor trailers on I-78 westbound.
  • A tractor trailer failed to slow down as it approached traffic caused by an earlier accident nearby.
  • Five tractor trailers and one other vehicle were involved in the second crash. At least one person died.

Two people died in a chain reaction crash involving several big rigs on Interstate 78 westbound in Windsor Township, Berks County, Wednesday afternoon.

A tractor-trailer unable to stop for traffic ahead initially slammed into a passenger car near mile marker 29, slowing down westbound traffic on I-78, around 2:40 p.m., Pennsylvania state police said.

The force of the initial wreck forced the car into another tractor-trailer, which was then pushed into the back of another tractor-trailer, leading to the chain reaction crash.

Two people died and three were hurt, police said.

In all, five tractor-trailers and one passenger vehicle were involved. Two of the tractor-trailers and the passenger vehicle also caught fire.

I-78 was shut down in both directions. One eastbound lane later reopened around 7 p.m. The whole highway reopened around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

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