Pa. Turnpike reopens after crash closes eastbound lanes between New Castle, Cranberry exits

Julia Felton | Thursday, October 13, 2022 7:37 a.m.

Tribune-Review

Traffic makes its way along the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the New Stanton interchange, on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018.

A crash early Thursday involving two tractor-trailers shut down all eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the New Castle and Cranberry exits for several hours.

A 911 emergency dispatcher said the crash happened around 4:40 a.m.

Turnpike officials said all eastbound lanes had reopened just after 8 p.m.

Officials could not say this morning what caused the crash.

“The tractor-trailers were blocking all lanes on the eastbound turnpike around mile post 18,” said turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said. “It’s unsure what caused it.”

DeFebo said one person was taken to a local hospital with injuries that ”didn’t appear to be life-threatening.”

There was a fire at the crash scene, as well as a diesel fuel spill, he said. The rain hampered cleanup efforts, he said.

Before the highway reopened, officials detoured eastbound motorists via Interstate 376 (10.8 miles), U.S. Route 422 (14.6 miles) and Interstate 79 (40 miles) to Cranberry.

EMERGENCY DETOUR – #PaTurnpike I-76 Eastbound Closed at New Castle Exit #10 due to a crash. Motorists should use the following detour "•I-376 West 10.8 miles•US 422 East 14.6 miles•I-79 South 40.0 miles•Enter PA Turnpike (Exit 77) at Cranberry #28.@PA_Turnpike pic.twitter.com/XLg56vQjxQ

— PA Turnpike Alerts (@PATurnpikeAlert) October 13, 2022