Pa. Turnpike Crash: Multi-vehicle accident, with fatalities, shuts down highway in W. Pa.

This just in from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission:

Crews are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash with fatalities on @PA_Turnpike, milepost 86 westbound. Crash involves 2 tractor trailers, a tour bus and passenger vehicles. Turnpike is closed in both directions from New Stanton (#75) to Breezewood (#161). A prolonged closure likely.

— Carl DeFebo (@cdefebo) January 5, 2020

The Associated Press reports:

At least five people were killed and dozens were injured in a crash early Sunday involving multiple vehicles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a transportation official said.

The fatal crash involving a tour bus, two tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles also injured at least 60 people, according to Pennsylvania Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo. He said in a tweet the tour bus flipped on its side.

DeFebo said a coroner confirmed five fatalities at the scene, which happened in Westmoreland County, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh.

There were 25 victims, ranging in age from 7 to 52 years old, transported to Excela Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, Excela Health spokeswoman Robin Jennings said. Nine of those patients are under the age of 18.

At least one of the 25 victims initially sent to Excela was transported to a nearby trauma center and the rest of the patients’ conditions were not known, Jennings said.

Details of what caused the accident were not immediately available, and the National Transportation Safety Board investigators were called to the scene. The National Weather Service forecast for Westmoreland County early Sunday listed light unknown precipitation and an air temperature just below freezing. DeFebo said it was “premature” to say if weather was a factor in the crash.

It is likely that at least a portion of the turnpike will be closed for the rest of the day, DeFebo said.