Disabled vehicle triggers fiery truck crash on Pa. Turnpike’s Northeast Extension

Two tractor-trailer drivers escaped serious injury when the rigs collided and erupted into flames Tuesday afternoon on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lehigh County, state police said.

The crash happened at 1:40 p.m. on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, near mile marker 51.7 in Emmaus, according to Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Richard Levan, public information officer for Troop T.

The accident began when a North Bergen, New Jersey, man operating his rig in the right lane encountered a disabled car on the right shoulder, state police said.

The driver braked hard, lost control, and veered into the left lane, striking the second tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailers came to a stop, blocking the northbound lanes. Shortly after, both vehicles ignited into flames, state police said.

Responding troopers found both tractor trailers “fully engulfed” at the time of arrival. Both drivers escaped safely before the vehicles caught fire, Levan said.

The crash shut down a portion of Pennsylvania Turnpike north from Lehigh County to Bucks County. Traffic was backed up for miles and the highway was reportedly shut down for more than two hours.

WFMZ-69 News reported the Turnpike was closed for approximately 13 miles, with traffic detoured between the Quakertown and Lehigh Valley exits.

Marissa Orbanek, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, told WFMZ one of the rigs was empty, while the other was transporting train wheels.

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