NEW STANTON, Pa. — A crash involving two tractor-trailers, one of which caught fire, had all westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike blocked for several hours Tuesday morning in New Stanton.
The crash was reported shortly before 5 a.m.
Fire officials said the tractor-trailer that caught fire was carrying car batteries and there was an explosion when it crashed into the back of the other tractor-trailer.
On scene Pa Turnpike vehicle accident Two trailer trucks with explosion. 75 mile post west . West bound completely closed pic.twitter.com/w2qysttiPM
— Lloyd Crago (@Firechief26) December 24, 2019
People who live in the area said the explosion shook their homes.
“It just kept getting louder and happened like four or five times, and we come out to the dining room and looked out the window and it was just a ball of fire,” Kelly Morrow, of New Stanton, said.
No one was seriously hurt.
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Westbound lanes were blocked between New Stanton (Exit 75) and Irwin (Exit 67). Drivers were detoured at Somerset (Exit 110).
Crews were able to clear the crash and reopen westbound lanes by 8 a.m. to allow drivers who were stuck in traffic through. However, the detour at the Somerset exit remained in effect until shortly before 9 a.m.
Investigators are working to determine what caused the crash.
UPDATE: Accident site clearing. Tractor trailer has been moved off to the side of the turnpike. Traffic finally moving after being stopped for 3 hours. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/RdjAemU6gL
— Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) December 24, 2019
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