Trevon Wallace, 28, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was driving the white Chevrolet van, and Anthony Pena, 41, of Westmoreland County, was his passenger, according to the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office.
Both men died from multiple traumatic injuries, and their deaths were ruled accidental.
The crash happened at approximately 10:06 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, on I-81 north near mile marker 70.4 in Lower Paxton Township, state police said.
The van traveled across all travel lanes before slamming into the trailer of a commercial motor vehicle that was lawfully disabled on the right shoulder with emergency warning placards displayed. The sequence of the crash was captured on the van’s dashboard camera, state police said. PennDOT spokeswoman Fritzi Schreffler previously told Daily Voice the disabled commercial vehicle was an Amazon tractor-trailer.
The Dauphin County Coroner’s Office responded alongside local fire departments, EMS crews, and Pennsylvania State Police. The crash shut down the right shoulder and reduced northbound traffic to a single lane for several hours while crews worked the scene.
A GoFundMe created for Pena’s family says he was “a loving father, partner, and son” who leaves behind “3 beautiful, young daughters and a loving partner, Tiffany.” The fundraiser will help his family “maintain daily care and stability” following the tragedy.
Friends and family also mourned Wallace online.
“Knew you since middle school… I just talked to you fam… Ima miss you,” longtime friend Ivan Wright wrote.
Wallace’s sister, Shameka Wallace, shared her own heartbreak in a tribute, writing, “It hurts so bad.. My lil brother man.. I love you Tre”
Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate.