Thursday, January 12, 2023

No Injuries Reported After Axle Breaks Off Tractor Trailer and Strikes Vehicle on Interstate 81

The Pennsylvania State Police have released details after an axle broke off a tractor trailer on Interstate 81 last week.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, the crash occurred on Friday, January 6th, 2023, around 8:45am on Interstate 81 near mile marker 118.6 in Cass Township..

The call came into Schuylkill 911 as a report of tractor trailer fire but that was changed after responding units from Frackville and Englewood reported finding a vehicle in the southbound lanes with heavy damage and a tractor trailer missing a wheel in the northbound lanes.

Troopers say John Legler, 51, of Charlestown, IN was travelling northbound near mile marker 118.6 near Highridge in a Peterbilt tractor trailer when one of his left axles broke off sending a set of tires through the median and into the southbound lanes.

The tires struck a Kia Soul, driven by Lisa Morales, 40, of Ashland.

No injuries were reported.  Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

The Good Will Hose Company of Frackville handled traffic control in the southbound lanes until the Kia was towed from the scene.