A snow squall in Pennsylvania in mid-February had tragic consequences for a number of families. The weather came out of nowhere; one minute, the sun was shining through occasional clouds. The next, snow was falling in gusting winds, creating whiteout conditions that lasted nearly 30 minutes. The poor conditions started a chain reaction that killed 3 and wrecked 64 vehicles.
A series of unfortunate events
The pileup started with a tractor-trailer that slowed down to deal with the dangerous conditions. Slick roadways caused the car behind them to slide into the truck, becoming the first of dozens of impacts. Karl Shuster and Matt Lubensky were in that first car. They told WITF, “We could just hear it piling up behind us. We got hit four times and everyone piled in behind us. The vehicle is totaled but we’re good.”
The devastating accident closed all lanes on both sides of Interstate 78 near Bethel Township. First responders from the area and surrounding counties were dispatched to the scene, along with four medical evacuation helicopters for the more seriously wounded. In all, 73 victims were transported to 11 different hospitals for treatment.
This accident highlights a number of situations that we frequently discuss on this blog. A dozen commercial vehicles were involved; in fact, the lead vehicle in the pileup was a tractor-trailer. Weather conditions changed abruptly, contributing to poor visibility and slick roadways. In short, this pileup was the perfect storm of unsafe driving conditions, and it came out of nowhere.
Sometimes accidents are unavoidable
While defensive driving can help prevent accidents and save lives, there are times when an accident is unavoidable. In this case, the difference in braking dynamics between heavy trucks and passenger vehicles combined with terrible weather conditions initiated a waterfall of events that affected 76 people and their families.
When accidents happen, confusion reigns. If you or someone you know has been in an accident, the experienced Tennessee truck accident attorneys at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm can help you through that confusion. We can answer your questions and will fight to protect your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation in our Nashville, Gallatin or Knoxville office locations.
