Truck’s brake failure blamed for “mass casualty” nine vehicle pileup
At least eleven people are injured after a tanker truck reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into several vehicles in Churchill, Pennsylvania, today.
Tanker Truck Collides With Nine Vehicles Waiting At Traffic Light
The crash happened just after 1 p.m. at the intersection of Route 22 and Rodi Road. Police say that the brakes on a Hinkle Trucking tanker truck failed as the truck was traveling east on Route 22, causing the truck to collide with nine other vehicles stopped at a red light at the intersection from behind.
BREAKING: ‘Mass casualty’ incident on Route 22 in Churchill. We have crews working to get details & will have stories at 5&6 on @WPXI
LINK: https://t.co/W0YdLxREm1 pic.twitter.com/job8wVoIii— Gabriella DeLuca (@GabriellaDeLuca) November 17, 2017
Witness Cory Davis told Trib Live that “It looked like it had lost the brakes and couldn’t stop. It just hit like seven or eight cars. All these cars were sandwiched between each other.”
Michael West describing accident on Rodi Road. His car was totaled pic.twitter.com/i79fM62L6l
— Ben Schmitt (@bencschmitt) November 17, 2017
One motorist involved in the crash stated, “I looked in the rear-view mirror and I saw the truck just speeding down the hill. It just hit the first car, and it was bang, bang, bang. I think I was the third car to get hit.”
HAPPENING NOW: William Penn Highway is closed in both directions after a tractor trailer crashed into at least 8 vehicles about an hour ago: https://t.co/zrmVr41xIZ pic.twitter.com/QkmHmD7Jeh
— KDKA (@CBSPittsburgh) November 17, 2017
After the crash, the tanker truck driver told police that his brakes had failed.
Eleven Hurt, All Expected To Survive
Eleven people were hurt in the crash. Of those, nine were transported to the hospital for treatment. Two of the eleven people injured are listed in serious condition, but are expected to survive. The condition of the truck driver is unclear at this time.
Churchill police Chief Roch Kujava stated that “This is the worst crash I’ve been on, and I’ve been a police officer since 1979.”
Truck smashes into 7 to 10 cars at William Penn Highway intersection with Nottingham Drive and Rodi Road #WTAE pic.twitter.com/OBOJe7SKBW
— Bob Mayo (@BMayo_WTAE) November 17, 2017
Route 22 is expected to be closed in both directions for an extended period of time for the crash.
Churchill: William Penn Highway/Route 22 to be closed in both directions for extended period of time due to vehicle crash.
— Allegheny County (@Allegheny_Co) November 17, 2017
Police are still investigating this crash. No citations have been issued at this time.
I’m Live along William Penn Highway at the accident scene coming up at five. #WPXI pic.twitter.com/vUujaaCc2L
— Damany (@DamanyLEWIS) November 17, 2017