One person was killed following a wrong-way crash along Interstate 279 North early Tuesday morning, according to state police.
The crash, which happened around midnight near Chestnut Street, occurred when a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lane collided head on with a tractor trailer that was driving in the correct direction, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Melinda Bondarenka said.
Upon impact, the car caught fire. The driver of the tractor trailer was able to extinguish the flames, but the 33-year-old person driving the car was killed on impact, Bondarenka said. Officials have not yet identified the driver of the car.
The driver of the tractor trailer was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The road was closed for about six hours overnight. Crews cleared the scene shortly after 6 a.m. Bondarenka noted that both vehicles were disabled.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the incident.
UPDATE: driver of blue car was driving the wrong way on 279 and crashed head on with a Pepsi truck, according to state police. Driver of truck tried to put fire out on the car that caught fire. Car driver died. Truck driver in hospital. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/ZRfaUGi0lt
— WPXIJennifer Tomazic (@JenniferTomazic) October 20, 2020
