Thursday, May 25, 2017

Father and Son Identified as Victims in Fatal Crash on Interstate 81

Authorities have released information on Wednesday's Crash on Interstate 81.

According the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, around 2:15pm Wednesday, traffic was slowing near Milemarker 121 of Interstate 81, in Butler Township, due to the construction zone.

The crash occurred when an International Truck Tractor trailer, driven by Brian Barrett, 45, of Greentown, struck the rear of a Nissan Rogue Pickup truck, driven by Kevin Novitsky, 52, of Scott Township, Lackawanna County.  Novitsky's father, Clement Novitsky, 79, also of Scott Township, was a passenger in the Nissan.

After being struck, the Nissan Rogue struck the rear of a Dodge Ram, driven by Bryan Ketcham, 24, of Hop Bottom, PA.  The Dodge Ram then struck the rear of the trailer of a Volvo Tractor Trailer driven by Roman Zhuk, 50, of Feasterville, PA.

During the crash, the first two vehicles involved (Tractor Trailer and Nissan Rogue) became totally engulfed in flames.

The occupants of the Nissan Rogue, Kevin Novitsky, and Clement Novitsky both died in the crash and were pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak.

Bryan Ketcham, was flown to an area trauma center with serious injuries.  Both drivers of the tractor trailers were not injured in the crash.

Multiple Schuylkill County fire departments responded to the scene as well as to aide in traffic control.  Interstate 81 northbound was closed for over 10 hours while the crash was investigated.