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.