Fatal crash closes 1-78 for four hours

Pennsylvania State Police at Hamburg are investigating a fatal crash on Interstate 78 westbound at mile marker 32.5. Westbound traffic was slowing/stopped in both westbound lanes for a single lane construction zone around mile marker 29 westbound.

A tractor trailer was traveling westbound and was unable to stop for the traffic ahead. That tractor trailer first struck a passenger vehicle. That vehicle was then pushed into the rear of a tractor trailer. The chain reaction crash consisted of five tractor trailers and one passenger vehicle. There was heavy fire involving two tractor trailers and the passenger vehicle. There were three injuries and at least one fatality.

The highway was shut down for over 4 hours. Eastbound traffic began moving in one lane around 7 p.m. Both westbound lanes are still closed for the investigation and clean up.

Numerous Fire Departments from Berks, Lehigh, Lebanon, and Schuylkill Counties assisted at the scene.