Five die after trucks hit crashed tour bus on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Sixty people injured in pileup after three tractor-trailers loaded with parcels crash into bus that had struck an embankment in Westmoreland County.

Image: Jim Allen/FreightWaves

At least five people died and 60 were injured on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Sunday morning after three tractor-trailers hit a tour bus that had struck an embankment, authorities said.

The accident occurred about 3:40 a.m. as the bus traveled downhill in a curve in the Turnpike’s westbound lanes, 30 miles east of Pittsburgh, in the Mount Pleasant Township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Holly Reber-Billings tweeted

The three trucks, loaded with parcels, were traveling behind the bus, Reber-Billings said. A passenger vehicle was also involved, she added.

Early Associated Press images from the crash scene appeared to show a FedEX tractor-trailer as one of the involved trucks.

Five people died at the scene. Paramedics transported the injured to area hospitals. 

Authorities have yet to release the names of the victims. It was unclear of any of the victims are truck drivers.

“Keeping victims and their families in my prayers,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted.

As of 1:30 p.m. Sunday, more than 80 miles of the Turnpike’s westbound lanes remained closed from New Stanton to Breezewood, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

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