An SUV traveling the wrong way on Interstate 70 in Hempfield pinballed between three tractor-trailers early Tuesday morning, sending two drivers to the hospital, according to state Trooper Rocco Gagliardi.
The high-speed, violent crash was reported at 12:44 a.m. around a curve in the highway between the New Stanton and Madison exits. Gagliardi said police were still investigating how the SUV driven by Daniel Oliver, 80, of Greensburg, ended up traveling west in the eastbound lanes.
Troopers will review dash cam footage from one of the tractor-trailers.
“We’re not sure how we don’t have a three-way fatal as of this morning, it is that crazy of a crash,” Gagliardi said.
The stretch of eastbound I-70 was closed for most of the morning and reopened around midday. Crews were working on a repair to the median after the wreckage was cleared.
Two tractor-trailers were traveling practically next to each other when bright headlights are seen in the dash cam footage coming toward them.
“At a high rate of speed, the SUV hits head on” with the tractor-trailer in the left lane, Gagliardi said. “Right away, the tractor-trailer goes off to the left, hitting the median. The SUV then hits into tractor-trailer number two and then proceeds to almost pinball in between both sets of tractor-trailers, spinning all the way out at the very tail end hitting into a third tractor-trailer.”
The first tractor-trailer burst into flames. That driver and Oliver were taken to a hospital. The other two tractor-trailer drivers either weren’t hurt or were treated at the scene.
“Some of that video footage is wild when you witness that in real time,” Gagliardi said.
Hempfield fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said firefighters called in numerous tanker trucks to get enough water to extinguish the flames. Photographs from the scene posted on social media by local fire departments showed a huge fireball fueled by diesel.
Gagliardi emphasized the importance of drivers paying attention to the road, as those behind the wheels of the tractor-trailers were doing at the time of the crash. That helped them have quick reactions, he said.
“Defensive driving is the best form of driving, you have no idea of what might be coming at you,” he said.
Anyone who saw the wrong-way driver is asked to call state police at 724-929-6262.
