Deadly multi vehicle crash on Interstate 81

Terrified drivers describe how they frantically escaped fiery 60-vehicle pile-up on Pennsylvania interstate during white-out conditions that left five dead and 20 injured

Terrified drivers who escaped a 60-vehicle pile-up on a Pennsylvania interstate Monday morning claim white-out conditions came out of nowhere and were followed by sounds of explosions.

'All of a sudden it was just noise – car hitting car, truck, explosion. Something blew up back there with that big fire. It was just terrible, unbelievable,' driver Bob Kenney told WNEP.

                               

At least five people were killed and more than 20 others injured as a result of the crash, police said.

'There was no visibility. I could only hear cars around me hitting each other,' echoed Lillie Weaver who was traveling to a university in the area. 'I was hearing loud bangs and explosions and then I saw the smoke.'

The crash occurred on Interstate 81 in Schuykill County around 10.30am. Tractor-trailers and other vehicles reportedly lost control and slammed into each other, as people leapt away from careering trucks seconds before collision.

Three tractor trailers carrying unknown cargo were on fire when emergency personnel arrived and some smaller vehicles were also on fire.

John Blickley, with the Schuylkill County Office of Emergency Management, said officials believe a snow squall clouded visibility and likely contributed to the crash.

Candy and David Gerken, who were headed towards their upstate New York home, said the heavy snow, low-visibility and mass causality crash came on suddenly.

'All of a sudden, all I saw was a wall of trucks sideways,' Candy told the TV station. 'We got hit from that side, banged over there, pushed over there, and ended up in a ditch and got hit again.'

'We're trying to get out of the way of not getting run into by another car, but they hit us and it just kept going,' David added.

Francisco Diaz, who managed to avoid hitting other vehicles before striking a tree, watched his truck burn before his eyes.

'I just veered to the left and I went in the woods. Luckily, I didn't hit anybody, but I hit a tree. My truck is right in front of the fire,' Diaz recalled. 'Glass from my door fell on me. I found glass on my neck and in my boots. I have a cut.'