Multiple vehicles crash on I-81

State police at Frackville reported a multiple vehicle crash along Interstate 81 in Ryan Township, Schuylkill County that occurred at 12:33 p.m. Wednesday. The crash was caused, in part, by a one-vehicle crash that occurred a few moments earlier.

Troopers said Johnny Masters, 43 of Piedmont, South Carolina, was driving a Kenworth tractor with trailer northbound and had to stop in the right lane for a vehicle that had just crashed into a bridge.

Mark Foore, 46, of Carlisle, Cumberland County, driving a 2016 Volvo tractor with double trailers came upon the other stopped rig and slowed to a stop. Sandra Bond, 76, of Bernville, Berks County, driving a 2014 Cadillac, started to stop behind Foore. Bond then decided to pull into the passing lane to pass the two stopped rigs. Raymond Cook, 54, of Tunkhannock, Monroe County, driving a Kenworth tractor with trailer, applied his brakes upon seeing Bond pull into his lane.

This started a chain-reaction in which Cook's vehicle struck Bond's pushing it into Foore's and his into Masters.

Part of Cook's load, lumber, was dumped onto the roadway. No one was injured. Masters' vehicle was drivable but the others all had to be towed.

The accident that started the second crash involved Kareen Lateef Hough, 39, of Hudson, Luzerne County, driving a 2005 Ford Explorer. She was northbound during a rainstorm and crossing a bridge when her vehicle began to fishtail and went into a full spin. It struck the right side concrete bridge rail and came to a stop. Hough and passenger, Bryan Pearl, 35, of Wernersville, Berks County, were not injured.

Troopers said an inspection of the Explorer revealed the two rear tires were completely bald. The vehicle had to be towed. She was cited for equipment violations, troopers said.

The right northbound lane was closed for about three hours until the scene was cleared, troopers added.