LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — State police say five members of the same family were killed after they were struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 north near Waverly Tuesday night.
Troopers say four of the victims got out of a minivan after it lost control on the snow-covered road.
Two other relatives in a different car pulled over and walked across the interstate to help. That's when a tractor-trailer hit the victims.
This is now the deadliest crash in Lackawanna County since 2016.
Jonathan Eboli works for PennDOT. He says if you find yourself involved in a crash on the interstate, try to pull off the road.
“If your vehicle ever becomes disabled or you have any type of breakdown on an interstate, we do recommend that you pull the vehicle as far away from the active lanes of travel as possible,” said Eboli.
PennDOT officials are also urging drivers passing any crash to move over to the next lane.
“The move-over law is in place if you encounter any kind of disabled vehicle and are able to safely move over to the lane adjacent to where that accident has occurred,” said Eboli. “You are required to move over.”
Almost two years ago, and 80 miles away, this stretch of Interstate 81 north in Schuylkill County was closed after one of the worst pile-ups the area has ever seen.
EMS Chief Mike Mistishen was one of many first responders from Goodwill Fire and EMS in Minersville who worked for days sifting through the wreckage of the pile-up back in 2022.
“I could just imagine the phone calls that were coming in there and what they're hearing on the other side of that,” said Mistishen as he remembered what it was like during the deadly pile-up.
He says the news of Tuesday night's deadly wreck is just another reason to always stay alert when stuck on the highway.
During that pileup following a snow squall in Schuylkill County, a few drivers got out of their vehicles leading to some close calls.
Mistishen says it's a risk not worth taking.
“Staying calm will save your life. Stay in your vehicle if at all possible. Check to make sure you're not injured. If you have passengers make sure they're not injured. If you're off the roadway, stay in your vehicle, if you're on the roadway stay in your vehicle,” said Mistishen.