1 dead in pile-up on I-80 in Mercer County; initial crash caused by snowy roads, state police say

EAST LACKAWANNOCK TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man died in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 in Mercer County Wednesday morning.

The crash happened at 5:45 a.m. in East Lackawannock Township.

According to a state police report, a tractor-trailer was traveling east in the right-hand lane when it skidded on the snow-covered road, causing it to travel across the left lane and hit the median-side ditch. The trailer was partially blocking both lanes when another tractor-trailer in the right lane attempted to avoid a collision by driving on the right berm.

The second truck’s trailer hit the first trailer, causing it to jackknife and block all lanes of traffic.

Another tractor-trailer then skidded, trying to avoid a collision, and stopped against the first tractor-trailer. Two vehicles then hit the third trailer in the right lane.

A Mercedes Benz SUV then struck the passenger-side door area of the third tractor-trailer, according to the report.

A fourth tractor-trailer rear-ended the SUV, pinning it.

The passenger of the SUV, later identified as Anthony Eugene Mallory, 34, from Rochester, New York, was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV’s driver was taken to an area hospital. The extent of their injuries was not released.

No other injuries were reported.

Lanes were closed between I-376 and Route 19 for several hours. All lanes reopened by 4:20 p.m.

The investigation is ongoing.

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