I-81 Mulit car accident MM 141/2-10-08

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Date 2-10-08   Time-14:19   Type-Multi Vehicle Accident   Box-10-MVA

McAdoo Fire and EMS responds to assist Hazle Twp Fire for a multi car accident On I-81

I-81 North Closed Near Hazleton After Pile-Up
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 @02:30pm EST
HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY - Snow squalls have caused dangerous and slick driving conditions all across Central and Northeast Pennsylvania.

State Police are investigating a multi-car pile-up on part of Interstate 81 Northbound in Luzerne County. It happened around 2:00 PM between Mile Markers 141 and 143. That is in the Hazle Township area.

Investigators say more than two dozen cars, maybe as many as 40 vehicles, were involved in the crash.

"You could hear the traffic crashing and it sounded like a battle zone," truck driver Rick Boelman said.

Car after car, trucks, even tractor trailers were all spewed over the interstate.

"It was like a squall or something, that came down really fast," Gary Matthews of Wilkes-Barre said.

Ambulances responded to the scene. Several people were hurt in the horrific looking pile-up.

"There was no visibility for a while. We saw things moving ahead of us, we slowed down and applied extra traction and we're really lucky right now," Maureen Harkins of Forty Fort said.

"Thank God I was able to not hit any vehicles. We pulled off the road. No one also hit me. We're greatful," Lisa Aritz said.

At least one person was killed when their car slammed into the back of a tractor trailer. The name of the victim has not yet been released.

"As far as the condition of accidents, it's the worst I've seen and I've been driving for 26 years," Boelman said.

Besides dozens of firefighters, EMA officials also responded to the scene after a tanker carrying a hazardous product was involved in the wreck.

"There was a tanker that was carrying hydrogen peroxide involved in the accident. The tanker was secure. There are no leaks," Steve Bekanich said.

As of 6:00 PM, part of Interstate 81-Northbound remains closed while emergency crews try to clear all of the wrecked vehicles from the scene. Officials say the interstate is closed between mile markers 143 & 139. There is no word when it will reopen.

The Red Cross is helping out in the area by setting-up a shelter for any of the stranded drivers who need help at their facility in Luzerne County.

Breaking News: 60-vehicle pile-up on I-81 kills woman
By: Times-Shamrock Newspapers 02/10/2008
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At least 60 vehicles were involved in a crash that closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 between the McAdoo exit (No. 138) and the Hazleton/Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Beltway (No. 141) mid-Sunday afternoon.
At least one person, a woman from of the area, is dead and many are reported injured.
Hazleton General Hospital has reportedly instituted its mass casualty plan.
Shelters have been set up around the Hazleton area, and emergency management agencies from Hazle Township, West Hazleton and Hazleton are working to find shelter for people whose vehicles are undriveable.
Other accidents have reportedly closed portions of I-81 between the Mahanoy City (No. 133) and McAdoo exits.
State police advise motorists to avoid I-81 between Mahanoy City and the south side of Hazleton, as the highway will be closed for at least several hours.
Traffic is being re-routed onto Routes 309, 93 and 924, so drivers are asked to avoid them if possible.
Southbound lanes have been opened, but traffic is moving very slowly.
The accidents happened either during or in the wake of a snow squall that created whiteout conditions.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Northeastern Pennsylvania from 10 a.m. Sunday to midnight.
Winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 45 miles per hour, plus cold temperatures, can lead to low wind chill factors and icy conditions.
Snow squalls combined with the high winds led to accidents and downed trees throughout Luzerne County. Motorists are advised to drive with care.
Read The Citizens' Voice or check back at www.citizensvoice.com for more details.

Units on the Box:

Command:
Fire - Chief 101
Extrication - Chief 102
Staging - Chief 104
EMS - Medic 11-E

Fire:
Hazle Twp Fire - R-101, E-102, E-103, U-1010
West Hazleton Fire - R-245, U-243 w/Fire Police, (E241 Manned for Calls in Hazle Twp)
Sugarloaf Twp Fire - 177-R1, (177-E1 & 177-E2 Standing By at Station for calls in West Hazleton)
Valley Regional Fire - Rescue 2(SB at RT93/I-81), (Engine 2, MC Trailer Manned)
McAdoo Fire - Engine 49-15
Mahanoy City Fire - Engine and Fire Police
Quakake Fire - Engine, Fire Police
Harwood Fire - Engine 1 (Standby @ station)
Hazleton City Fire - Fire Police
Beaver Meadows Fire - Fire Police
Tresckow Fire - Fire Police
Freeland Fire - Engine 1 and Utility relocate to Hazle Twp. Station.

EMS:
APTS - Medic 11-A, Medic 11-C, Medic 11-F, A1, A3, A4, A6, NE x4.
Medic 26 A & B
Medic 22
Medic 19B (staging at VRFR)
White Haven EMS
Valley Regional EMS - A1, A2, A3
Sugarloaf EMS x2
McAdoo EMS 921
West Hazleton EMS
Nuremburg EMS 980 & 971
Mahanoy City EMS x2
Ashley EMS - 511-A1 (staging at VRFR)
Ryan Twp. EMS

Other:
Luzerne County EMA 1 & 2
Hazle Twp. EMA
PSP Haz
Hazleton City PD
Luzerne County Coroner
5 Hazleton Area School Buses
1 Niffen Auto Bus
PennDOT
Red Cross