Schuylkill County, PA (April 23, 2026) – A 49-year-old Schuylkill County man was killed when his disabled vehicle was struck head-on in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 78 late Wednesday night, Pennsylvania State Police report.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, the fatal collision occurred just after 11 p.m. in Bethel Township, Berks County. Investigators say the incident is a secondary crash, in which a second vehicle struck an already-disabled vehicle that had come to rest in the left lane facing the wrong direction. Both drivers became entrapped and required extrication by emergency crews. The Schuylkill County man was transported to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the striking vehicle sustained injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. Emergency personnel responded to the scene, and the crash prompted a law enforcement investigation into both the initial vehicle breakdown and the subsequent fatal collision. The eastbound lanes were impacted as crews worked the scene. The investigation is ongoing.