CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Details have been released after three people were killed in back-to-back crashes Tuesday morning, June 20 on I-80 in Centre County.
Crews were called to the scene at mile marker 156 Westbound just after midnight for a multi-vehicle crash with injuries and entrapment.
State police later released a report saying that a tractor-trailer and a passenger car with three people in it collided on the highway. The tractor-trailer came to a stop down an embankment with the car stopping on the shoulder.
A second tractor-trailer then ended up hitting the passenger car, throwing two from the car while the third remained in the car. All three from the car were declared dead at the scene.
The Centre County Chief Deputy Coroner, Judy Pleskonko identified them as a family of three from Porter County, Indiana. Thomas, 48, Catherine, 49, and their 20-year-old son Derek. Their death was caused by blunt force trauma and has been ruled accidental.
In addition, troopers said a good samaritan who was trying to help after the first crash was hit by the passenger car after the second tractor-trailer hit it. They were flown to UPMC Altoona with serious injuries.
The second tractor-trailer went over an embankment and the driver was also flown to the hospital. The first tractor-trailer driver reportedly had minor injuries.