7 semis, 5 passenger vehicles pile up today on I-80, just east of Pa. line

MERCER, PA.

A multi-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 80 at 3:50 p.m. today restricting traffic to one or both lanes for short periods of time, but there were no serious injuries. All lanes were open by 7:21 p.m., reported the Pennsylvania State Police Mercer Post.

At the time of the crash, severe winter weather was passing through and visibility was poor and the roadway was wet and lightly snow covered, police said.

The pile-up began in the westbound lane at Mile Marker 1 in Shenango Township when a tractor-trailer jackknifed and blocked both lines. Another tractor-trailer driver hit his brakes and three passenger vehicles rear-ended the truck and each other. More approaching vehicles steered into the center median to avoid running into the crash.

In total, seven tractor-trailers and five passenger vehicles were damaged or stuck in the center median. All parties were wearing seat belts and air bags deployed in one passenger vehicle.

Police said driver information will be released at a later date.