Saturday, February 19, 2022

Driver Cited in Tri-Axle Rollover on Interstate 81 near Schuylkill/Luzerne County Line

Update on the crash that snarled traffic on the southbound lanes of Interstate 81 near the Schuylkill/Luzerne County line.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Hazleton, the crash occurred around 9:10am when a tri-axle dump truck hauling coal, driven by Alexia Wheary, 26, of Coal Township rolled onto it's passenger side near mile marker 139.4 on Interstate 81 southbound.

Wheary was not injured in the crash and was able to get out of the truck on her own.

An investigation by police found that Wheary was attempting to negotiate a left curve at a speed too fast for her haul.

She veered onto the right shoulder, then attempted to turn left back onto the highway causing the load of coal to shift overturning the truck into the median.

The contents of the truck spilled across both southbound lanes.

The left lane of Interstate 81 southbound was closed in the area of the crash for approximately 2 1/2 hours while the scene was cleared.

Wheary was cited for not driving at a safe speed.

Assisting at the scene were the McAdoo Fire Department and EMS, Delano Township Fire, Hazle Township Fire, D&B Towing, and PennDOT.

Photos by McAdoo Fire Company