Should have been here for bingo last night
I-81 reopens in Schuylkill County [PA], nearly 2 days after 50-car pileup
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/03/i-81-reopens-in-schuylkill-county-nearly-2-days-after-50-car-pileup.html
Interstate 81 reopened early Wednesday morning nearly two days after a 50-60 vehicle pileup in Schuylkill County that left five dead and at least two dozen injured.
The northbound side of I-81 reopened around 1 a.m. between exit 107 to Tremont/Tower City, and exit 119 to Highridge Park Road. This section of highway — in Foster Township — shut down around 10:30 a.m. Monday, when the pileup occurred as a snow squall appeared, causing near white-out conditions.
Crews were still moving damaged vehicles off the highway Tuesday evening, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Trooper David Beohm said construction was necessary after the crash was cleared, but it’s unclear exactly what work needed to be done.
The Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office said three people had died as of mid-afternoon Monday, but the Pottsville Republican Herald reported two additional deaths later that evening, according to fire officials who responded to the crash scene.
Police initially said 24 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries from the crash, while 75 others were bussed to a mass casualty center run by the Red Cross for assistance and reunification with families.
State police have not released an updated number of fatalities and injuries as of Wednesday morning.
Beohm told USA Today that the crashed vehicles formed a blockage Monday morning. From there, every other incoming vehicle had nowhere to go, creating a chain reaction of crashes.
The first state police vehicle to respond was involved in the crash, and the trooper suffered minor injuries, Beohm said.
Another factor in the delay of the crash response was vehicles on fire, including tractor-trailers, according to Beohm. Until the fires were out, crews couldn’t get to parts of the crash scene to provide assistance and clean up.
Beohm said fires were burning until around 6 p.m. Monday, nearly eight hours after the crash started. After going to the scene Tuesday, Beohm told USA Today that the whole road was black from the fire.
Videos from the crash showed motorists evaluating damage off to the side of the road when incoming vehicles slammed directly into stopped vehicles. In some cases, vehicles could be seen being pushed around the road after being hit by oncoming traffic.