Saturday, 2/13/16, 09:28 a.m., members of the Pennsylvania State Police, along with fire fighters, EMS, and other first responders responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 78 westbound at mile maker 7.5 which is within Bethel Township, Lebanon County. Upon arrival members encountered a major crash along with numerous secondary crashes.
The main crashes involved 64 vehicles including 12 commercial motor vehicles. The crash resulted in 73 people being transported to 11 area hospitals. Numerous EMS companies were involved in transporting the injured. Additionally 4 medical helicopters were utilized to transport the most seriously injured to trauma centers in the area.
Three persons were determined to be deceased at the scene. Those people were identified as:
- Kenneth J. Lesko , 50 years of age, of Bethpage, NY — traveling in a Dodge Ram
- Francisca V. Pear, 54 years of age, of Bridgewater, NJ traveling in a Toyota Tacoma
- Alfred Dean Kinnick, 57 years of age, of Limestone, TN traveling in a Commercial Motor Vehicle
Along with Troopers from Jonestown, Troopers from Harrisburg, Frackville, Reading, Hamburg, and Newport responded. Additionally Troopers assigned to the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Unit (CARS), Forensics Services Unit, and Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program responded to assist at the scene.
Rescue efforts were provided by the following EMS Agencies / Fire Departments
- Fire Departments:
- Station 58 from Annville/Cleona
- Station 14 Neversink
- Station 75 Fort Indiantown GAP
- Station 50 Hazmat
- Station 31 Keystone
- Station 47 Bunker Hill
- Station 41 Fredericksburg
- Station 10 Perseverance
- Ono Fire Company
- Station 53 Frystown (Berks County)
- Station 27 Rehrersburg (Berks County)
- Station 29 Bernville (Berks County)
- Station 50 Strausstown (Berks County)
- Station 61 Hamburg (Berks County)
- EMS Units:
- Station 140, 160, and 190 from Lebanon County
- Station 585 (Berks County)
- Station 4, 7, and 91 (Dauphin County)
Lebanon County Red Cross provided D.B Fisher busses who transported the non-injured and stranded motorists to Station 10, Perseverance Fire Company where a warming shelter was established. There, individuals were provided food, warmth, and an opportunity to acquire rental vehicles and hotels if necessary. The Salvation Army responded with a mobile command truck and provided assistance with victims at the scene.
PA Emergency Management Agency was activated and the State and County Emergency Operations Centers were also activated. Lebanon County EMA officials responded to the scene and also helped coordinate the on scene response. The Lebanon County Coroner’s Office also assisted at the scene.
With a crash of this magnitude, an outstanding effort from these many agencies made it possible to stabilize the scene, treat the critically-wounded, and rescue affected individuals with the primary focus on preservation of life. All of the aforementioned agencies worked tirelessly and collaboratively to minimize the loss of life and resolve the incident as expeditiously and safely as possible.
I-78 is currently open after being treated by PennDot. The eastbound lanes were reopened at 4:56 am this morning, and the westbound lanes were reopened this morning at 06:54 a.m.
