3 dead, I-80 west closed after chain-reaction crashes of 50 to 70 vehicles on I-80, I-79

Staff and wire reports

CLINTONVILLE, Pa. (AP)

A 10-mile stretch of Interstate 80 has been closed in western Pennsylvania after a series of snowy chain reaction crashes involving between 50 and 70 vehicles has left three people dead.

State police in Franklin are investigating, but not releasing information beyond that provided by Venango County 911 supervisor Mary Beth White.

She says the crashes began around 2:20 p.m. Saturday and the eastbound side of the highway was reopened after several hours, but the westbound side remained closed Saturday evening and was expected to remain so into the night as emergency crews struggled to reach some cars.

The vehicles either crashed into one another or into a median strip and White says there are three confirmed fatalities. The county coroner didn’t immediately return calls.

The same snowy weather prompted a 32-vehicle crash around noon on Interstate 79 in Deer Creek Township, Mercer County, but no serious injuries or fatalities were reported.

A news release from state police in Mercer said I-79 was closed for nearly three hours and the investigation continues.

State police units from the Mercer, Butler, New Castle and Meadville barracks responded as well as the American Red Cross and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Fifteen wreckers moved disabled vehicles and a school bus was used to transport stranded motorists.

Check back with News Watch for updates tonight.