Friday, December 17, 2021

Third Fatal Accident Occurs within Four Days on Section of Interstate 78

The Pennsylvania State Police have released information on a third fatal crash that occurred in a section of Interstate 78 in Berks County in just as many days.

On Tuesday evening, two fatal accidents occurred killing 5 people total at mile markers 18.1 and 27.3 in the eastbound lanes within 2 hours of each other.

On Friday morning, a third accident occurred in the westbound lanes killing one.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Hamburg, the crash occurred around 5:40am, on the westbound onramp from Route 61 to Interstate 78 at mile marker 29.3 in Tilden Township near Hamburg.

The crash occurred as a disabled tractor trailer with its four ways on being driven by Andrae Cornelius Riley Bland, 42, of Fresno, CA was parked on the on ramp.

A box truck, being driven by Jamie Sanchez, 44, of Bridgeport, CT was traveling westbound on Interstate 78 when it struck the rear of the trailer with the front passenger side of the box truck.

Sanchez suffered moderate injuries and was transported via Hamburg EMS to Reading Hospital.

The passenger in the box truck, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berk's County Coroners Office.

Bland was not injured.

Interstate 78 westbound was closed for nearly 5 hours while the Troop L CARS and FSU Units investigated and cleared the scene.

Also assisting at the scene were fire companies from Hamburg, Shartlesville, Shoemakersville, and Port Clinton, as well as PennDOT.

State Police are asking for anyone that may have witnessed the crash to call the Hamburg Barracks at (610) 562-6885.