Two crahes probed on I81 in Schuylkill

Two crashes were reported along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County in the same location and 10 minutes apart. State police at Frackville said the crashes occurred at mile post marker 129.6 in Mahanoy Township.

Troopers said about 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, Mieczyslaw Pielak, of Glendale, N.Y., was driving a 2000 Freightliner tractor with 2005 Wasbash trailer southbound when he fell asleep. The rig veered off the road and impacted with several large rocks in the median, causing both front tires and both gas tanks to dislodge. The passing lane was closed for about two hours. Pielak, who was not injured, is facing several motor vehicle code violations, troopers added.

At 12:55 a.m. Belal Dwaydar, 30, of Ottawa, Canada, was southbound driving a 2000 Pontiac Montana EX and approached the rig crash scene. The front end undercarriage of the car impacted with a large rock that was thrown onto the road from the rig accident, troopers said.

Dwaydar and two passengers were not injured. Troopers said Dwaydar will be cited.