UPDATE: The Cumberland County Coroner identified the victim in a deadly chain reaction crash on I-81 in Silver Spring Township as 64 year old Kathleen Weed of Pittsford, New York. Her husband, George Weed, is listed in critical condition at Hershey Medical Center.
Pennsylvania State Police say one person died in a chain reaction crash involving three tractor trailers and a Chevy Tahoe SUV on Interstate 81 in Cumberland County. The crash occurred at 4:10 pm Friday at mile marker 57 in the northbound lanes of the super highway in Silver Spring Township. Investigators say traffic was slowing for a traffic backlog when the driver of a tractor trailer failed to slow down in time. The big rig slammed into the rear of the SUV, pushing it into the rear of a tractor trailer which in turn impacted the trailer in front of it.
The drivers of the three tractor trailers suffered only minor injuries. A female passenger in the SUV died at the scene. The male driver of the SUV was flown by Life Lion to the hospital. PSP is withholding the names of the victims pending notification of the next of kin. The highway was shutdown for 5 hours while PSP accident reconstruction teams conducted their investigation. The roadway was reopened at around 9:25 pm.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact PSP Carlisle at (717) 249-2121.