Tanker Truck Slams into Tunnel on PA Turnpike

PA Turnpike Authority ^ | 4/26/02 | dasaji

[Dasaji]

C O M M I S S I O N N E W S R E L E A S E

Contact: Kathy Liebler, 717-939-9551, Ext. 2840 April 26, 2002

URGENT TRAVEL ADVISORY/MEDIA ALERT - UPDATE Tractor-Trailer/Tuscarora Tunnel Accident Causes Turnpike Shutdown Between Interchanges 12 and 16

April 26, 2002 -- Motorists traveling the Pennsylvania Turnpike, eastbound and westbound, are advised that the Turnpike is closed to traffic between Interchange 16, Carlisle, and Interchange 12, Breezewood.

All motorists, passenger and commercial, traveling westbound are being detoured off the Interchange 16, Carlisle Interchange, Cumberland County, to connect with Interstate 81. Motorists traveling eastbound are being detoured at Interchange 12 Breezewood, Bedford County, to connect with Interstates 70 and US 30.

Alternate route directional cards will be distributed at the interchanges.

The closure is due to a 7:15 a.m. accident when a tractor-trailer, traveling eastbound, crashed into the wall of the westbound portal of the Tuscarora Tunnel causing a fire and damage to the roadway and tunnel. Until damage assessments are completed, Turnpike officials, at this time, cannot determine the length of time the 65-mile long portion of roadway will be closed.

[Dasaji]

Ran a search for this, didn't find anything, but have heard some interesting comments from truckers:

My husband is out in Lancaster at Manheim Auto Auction and the car carrier truckers said that supposedly this was a fuel tanker that intentionally hit the center dividing area of the east and westbound lanes of the Tuscarora Tunnel. Blew out all the transformers and caused damage inside the tunnels. One trucker was just minutes "behind" the accident and saw military aircraft all over the place. NTSB was there investigating. Speculation is that this was intentional and that anything with explosives is NOT supposed to be going through these tunnels. I called turnpike commission at 1pm EST and they said the turnpike would be closed another 5-6 hrs. Now it is to be closed for the whole weekend.

Anyone heard anything more about this?

[Lazamataz]

Any knowledge on the name of the driver?

[hellinahandcart]

65-mile long portion of roadway

Any chance this is a typo? 65 miles seems a bit much to close down to avoid a damaged tunnel.

[TomServo]

Any knowledge on the name of the driver?

Jugdish.

[JRandomFreeper]

ping

[Shermy]

Altoona TV - no pics or anything.

www.wtajtv.com

Avoid travelling the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the central part of the state. That's the message today from State Police following a tractor-trailer crash at the entrance of the Tuscarora Tunnel, on the Huntingdon-Franklin County line. The driver of the rig was killed in the fiery crash, which happened shortly after 7:00am. A turnpike spokesman says the tunnel may be closed until midnight. Officials are concerned about the structural integrity with the tunnel.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Any knowledge on the name of the driver?

Cledus Snow a/k/a "Snowman"

[Corin Stormhands]

65 miles seems a bit much to close down to avoid a damaged tunnel.

I'm not familiar with the area, but that's not that much of a stretch in a rural area. You could have exits, and possible detours, several miles apart.

[Rodney King]

I just drove back and fort along the PA turnpike to Pittsburgh from CT last week. What a crappy road. Thin, windy, and trucks tailgaiting the whole way.

On the other hand, I stopped by a fresh meat place that I saw signs for along the eastern end of the turnpike and picked up two freshly killed T-bones for 9.99/lb. They were a little bit tougher than the stuff at the butcher shop, but were the juciest steaks I have ever had.

[DJ88]

Not really...depends on if there was any structural damage. Sounds like there was. Maybe there's more to the story than we know. Dang. Was just about to jump in the shower. ;-)

[JeepInMazar]

Officials are concerned about the structural integrity with the tunnel.

Significant accident to affect the structural integrity of the tunnel.

[aShepard]

Abdul, In America we drive on the right hand side of the road.

[spald]

There are four tunnels that go through the Alleghenies within a distance of about 30 miles: Tuscarora, Blue Ridge, Allegheny and one other whose name I don't recall right now (senior moment but it might be Naugatuck). I've driven this interstate many times and these tunnels are beautiful. Two lanes in one direction per tunnel (i.e. through one mountain there will be two tunnels, each with a one-way, two-lane Interstate highway). The tunnels are easily 0.5 miles long and a few seem to go over a mile.

[Southack]

Funny, but we had a truck knock down one of our overpasses near Birmingham last month, too. Killed the driver but no one else.

It's either suicidal truckers or a weak batch of No Doze pills!

[SauronOfMordor]

That area is in the mountains. It might be that the only alternate route involves getting off quite a bit before the tunnel

[midwestmidnight]

I've been through that tunnel more than a few times. If the detour is 65 miles, it's because you have to travel quite a way around the mountain to get around the tunnel. The tunnel goes through a steep ridge line that is miles long from north to south and is too steep to have a road that goes anywhere near directly over.

[Moonman62]

I'm sure it's an accident, just like people fly their airplanes accidentally at top speed into tall buildings on a clear day. It's quite common.

[Dasaji]

I cut/paste right from the Turnpike website. The 65 miles actually seemed a shorter distance that what it "feels" like driving between exits 12 & 16 (we make this trip weekly, I didn't go this time). I *think* this tunnel is between Breezewood and Bedford, exits 13 & 14. There are three other tunnels just east of this before Carlisle. My thoughts are that they've closed it ALL down in case this WAS intentional to keep other tunnels from experiencing any similar "accidents."

[linn37]

been years since I traveled on that road but its pretty desolate,not many exit and on ramps.

[chief911]

Right. That 65 mile stretch covers all 4 tunnels. It might be an overreaction but I'd bet that is why the long stretch.

[Lazamataz]

Funny, but we had a truck knock down one of our overpasses near Birmingham last month, too. Killed the driver but no one else.

Drivers name there?

Lots of information based on the name. If it is Mohommad Alawattafasoui, we can make some reasonable conclusions.

[Shermy]

Channel 27 Harrisburg (no pics): Truck Crashes into PA Turnpike Tunnel

Decorum, PA - The crash happened shortly after 7 AM at the Tuscarora Tunnel, in a rural area about 70 miles west of Harrisburg. The truck, operated by Gainey Transport and hauling paper, was headed east from Indiana when it crossed onto the westbound sideand crashed through an exterior wall and into a generator room at the tunnel. Officials say the crash caused a fire and knocked out power to the tunnel.

No one else was injured in the wreck. Several cars were briefly stuck in the tunnel behind the crash, but were safely removed. The dead driver's name is not yet available. The turnpike is closed in both directions and traffic is being diverted from Carlisle to Breezewood. A spokeswoman says work crews removed the truck by 11 a-m but are still inspecting the tunnel walls for damage and trying to restore power.

[Dog]

You hear any updates or you get info post to this thread and ping all of us.....:-)

[ElisabethInCincy]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH That was funny..I needed a laugh today Thank You MoonMan

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Yeah, like when their shoes blow up, over Queens. Could happen to anyone.

[Dasaji]

You got it.

Paper truck, eh?

With military helicopters all over and NTSB? The truckers we know at the auction see truck accidents on the turnpike all the time. The military and NTSB involvement is what has the truckers "questioning."

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for reporting this. Sounds to me like a news blackout, and they've had nearly ten hours now to control the 'story'.

[Alberta's Child]

. . . anything with explosives is NOT supposed to be going through these tunnels.

On a later post someone said the truck was carrying paper. I wonder why someone thought there were explosives involved.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Pennsylvania Turnpike Website

[NorseWood]

Perhaps the truck driver suffered from a bad case of tunnel vision . . . or "car-pool-tunnel syndrome".

[Fred Mertz]

Obscure news item FYI.....or is it?

[pittsburgh gop guy]

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Crash closes Franklin County turnpike tunnel

Friday, April 26, 2002

The Associated Press

DECORUM -- A tractor-trailer crashed into the entrance of a turnpike tunnel in south-central Pennsylvania this morning, killing the driver and closing the highway in both directions for 65 miles

The crash happened shortly after 7 a.m. at the Tuscarora Tunnel along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in a rural area about 70 miles west of Harrisburg.

The Gainey Transport truck, which was hauling paper, was headed eastbound from Indiana when it crossed onto the westbound side and crashed through an exterior wall and into a generator room, causing a fire and knocking out power, officials said.

"At the point where you are going to enter tunnel, for whatever reason he missed the tunnel entrance and drove into the mountain itself," said Cpl. Gerald Meredith of the Newville barracks, adding the crash knocked out lighting to the tunnel and filled it with smoke.

The driver died, Turnpike Commission spokeswoman Kathy Liebler said. No other people were injured in the wreck. Several cars were briefly stuck in the tunnel behind the crash, but were safely removed.

The turnpike was closed in both directions and traffic was being diverted from Carlisle to Breezewood, Liebler said.

Work crews had removed the truck by 11 a.m. but were inspecting the tunnel's walls for damage and trying to restore power. It was unclear how long the turnpike would be shut, Liebler said.

[Fury]

I just drove back and fort along the PA turnpike to Pittsburgh from CT last week. What a crappy road. Thin, windy, and trucks tailgaiting the whole way.

Agreed. I drive the Western end of the PA Turnpike and the road is "interesting" to drive on. Their EZPass implementation is a joke. People that have no tag just zip through the EZPass lanes, as there is no camera to click their pic, no lights yet set up to let you know the system has read your tag, etc. A joke and folks have picked up on it...

[rit]

From the PA Turnpike Website: TRAVEL ADVISORY/MEDIA ALERT: TURNPIKE BETWEEN INTERCHANGES 12 AND 16 WILL REOPEN 40 Mile Per Hour posted speed limit in Tuscarora Tunnel April 26, 2002 -- Motorists are advised that the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Tuscarora Tunnel will reopen at approximately 7 p.m. this evening. Normal traffic, eastbound and westbound, will be restored from Interchange 12, Breezewood, to Interchange 16, Carlisle. That portion of roadway has been closed since 7:15 a.m. because of a tractor-trailer accident at the Tuscarora Tunnel, in Huntingdon County. The incident resulted in the detour of eastbound traffic off the Turnpike at Breezewood and of westbound traffic off the Turnpike at Carlisle. Customers will be required to follow a 40-mile per hour speed limit while traveling through the tunnel that will be equipped with emergency lighting. Full commercial lighting is expected to be restored later this evening or by early morning. The accident involved the crash of a tractor-trailer, traveling eastbound, into the face of the westbound portal of the Tuscarora Tunnel causing a fire and loss of electrical power in the tunnel. Turnpike officials said the accident is under investigation.

[Betty Jo]

Name,we want a name!

[spald]

Crash closes Franklin County turnpike tunnel

Friday, April 26, 2002
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Associated Press

DECORUM -- A tractor-trailer crashed into the entrance of a turnpike tunnel in south-central Pennsylvania this morning, killing the driver and closing the highway in both directions for 65 miles.

The crash happened shortly after 7 a.m. at the Tuscarora Tunnel along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in a rural area about 70 miles west of Harrisburg.

The Gainey Transport truck, which was hauling paper, was headed eastbound from Indiana when it crossed onto the westbound side and crashed through an exterior wall and into a generator room, causing a fire and knocking out power, officials said.

"At the point where you are going to enter tunnel, for whatever reason he missed the tunnel entrance and drove into the mountain itself," said Cpl. Gerald Meredith of the Newville barracks, adding the crash knocked out lighting to the tunnel and filled it with smoke.

The driver died, Turnpike Commission spokeswoman Kathy Liebler said. No other people were injured in the wreck. Several cars were briefly stuck in the tunnel behind the crash, but were safely removed.

The turnpike was closed in both directions and traffic was being diverted from Carlisle to Breezewood, Liebler said.

Work crews had removed the truck by 11 a.m. but were inspecting the tunnel's walls for damage and trying to restore power. It was unclear how long the turnpike would be shut, Liebler said.

[Dasaji]

Thanks for checking the Turnpike site - it HAS been updated within the last half hour, indicating that tunnel/highway will be reopened by appx. 7pm tonight.

Still curious about what the truckers saw - perhaps because this accident involved a tunnel, certain response protocols are in place vs. if an accident happens out on the open road.

Looks like this could be case closed....

[jz638]

Doesn't look as serious as initially reported. A tunnel in a sparsely populated section of PA makes for a lousy terror target anyway.

TRAVEL ADVISORY/MEDIA ALERT:
TURNPIKE BETWEEN INTERCHANGES 12 AND 16 WILL REOPEN
40 Mile Per Hour posted speed limit in Tuscarora Tunnel

April 26, 2002 -- Motorists are advised that the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Tuscarora Tunnel will reopen at approximately 7 p.m. this evening.  Normal traffic, eastbound and westbound, will be restored from Interchange 12, Breezewood, to Interchange 16, Carlisle.   

That portion of roadway has been closed since 7:15 a.m. because of a tractor-trailer accident at the Tuscarora Tunnel, in Huntingdon County.  The incident resulted in the detour of eastbound traffic off the Turnpike at Breezewood and of westbound traffic off the Turnpike at Carlisle.  

Customers will be required to follow a 40-mile per hour speed limit while traveling through the tunnel that will be equipped with emergency lighting.  Full commercial lighting is expected to be restored later this evening or by early morning.

The accident involved the crash of a tractor-trailer, traveling eastbound, into the face of the westbound portal of the Tuscarora Tunnel causing a fire and loss of electrical power in the tunnel. 

Turnpike officials said the accident is under investigation.         

[Fred Mertz]

Still curious about what the truckers saw - perhaps because this accident involved a tunnel, certain response protocols are in place vs. if an accident happens out on the open road.

I agree with your insightful observation.

[cake_crumb]

ROFLOL, the conspiracy theorists. A truck hauling paper in Pennsylvania is hardly unusual, any more than a truck hauling logs in PA is unusual (we have timber management here).

Accidents happen, people.

Prayers for the driver and strength to his family

[Fred Mertz]

Glad you are on top of things. Wish you could have told us that in the second reply or so.

[thatsnotnice]

The closure is due to a 7:15 a.m. accident when a tractor-trailer, traveling eastbound, crashed into the wall of the westbound portal of the Tuscarora

Unless there was a mechanical problem, like blowing out a tire on the steering axle, I’d bet he fell asleep.

We used to work 3a.m. – 3pm. Our “night” drivers would usually be done by 1:30-2:00a.m.-ish, so we’d often start earlier. You get in at 2:00a.m., pull a load or two locally, grab your next load, stop for breakfast, head toward Mt. Hood just as the sun is coming up… I don’t know what it is about that combination - full stomach, nice warm cab, and driving into the rising sun – but it has resulted in a lot of truck drivers falling asleep.

7:15 seems a little late, but still possible.

[okie01]

"Still curious about what the truckers saw - perhaps because this accident involved a tunnel, certain response protocols are in place vs. if an accident happens out on the open road."

Last summer, I believe it was, a tanker truck exploded while transiting one of the Alpine tunnels between Switzerland and Italy. There was considerable loss of life and the tunnel was inoperable for what seems like a month-or-two. The disruption on trans-Alpine commercial traffic was significant.

The driver's name was Achmed al-something, if you catch my drift. There was widespread suspicion at the time that the accident was, in fact, a terrorist act.

You can bet that the federal security authorities are well aware of that particular accident and are alert to it being repeated over here. Closing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or any other important artery, for an extended period would be viewed as a likely terrorist objective.

[b4its2late]

I'm sure it's an accident, just like people fly their airplanes accidentally at top speed into tall buildings on a clear day. It's quite common.

Maybe the back of the trailer fell off and caused it to spin out of control.......that is quite common with that type of rig. Does it have a black box so we can tell what the truck and the driver were doing just before the alleged accident? Err, maybe we don't want to know........

[SoothingDave]

Any chance this is a typo? 65 miles seems a bit much to close down to avoid a damaged tunnel.

This is a mountainous region and I am sure the portion closed reflect the detour needed for trucks, as their is little practical route for them to travel on safely.

Route 30 is not a road for trucks.

SD

[cake_crumb]

"Glad you are on top of things. Wish you could have told us that in the second reply or so."

That reply makes no sense...especially to someone who lives in an area (in PA) where trees are harvested (and hauled) to make....

....

....

DA...da...DA!!....

....

....

PAPER!!!!!!

Also, I come from a family containing a lot of truckers, and have a mother who specialized in bookeeping for...

That's right...

trucking companies.

[tomkat]

Route 30 is not a road for trucks

Rt. 30 is not a road for mini-bikes !
LOL

(my ex-house was three blocks from 30 in southcentral PA ...

[flanew]

ping

[Fred Mertz]

Didn't the alleged involvement of the military and NTSB raise your sensors a little? It did mine.