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Pocono News Section
Interstate 81 Reopens After 68 Car Pile-Up
Interstate 81 Reopens After 68 Car Pile-Up - Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 11:53PM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 @11:53pm 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 a total of 68 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.
One woman, 24-year-old Teresa Berrocal of Maryland was killed when her car slammed into the back of a tractor trailer.
"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.
After more than five hours of being closed, Interstate 81 fully reopened just before 8:00 PM. It took that long to clear all of the wrecked cars from the roadway.
The Red Cross spent the night 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.
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