CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — A recreational vehicle blew a tire on an interstate highway in Pennsylvania, crossed the median and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer, killing four people in the RV and the truck driver, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday on northbound Interstate 81 near Chambersburg, in south-central Pennsylvania, state police said. The RV, which was heading south and towing a trailer, crossed a grassy median after the tire blew and struck the truck, which was towing double trailers.
Four people in the RV and the truck driver were all pronounced dead at the scene, and no other injuries were reported. Those killed in the RV were identified as Donald Molander, Kimberly Molander, Miranda Molander and Dane Molander, all of Middletown, Pennsylvania. The truck driver was identified as James Shade, of Martinsburg, West Virginia.
The stretch of road was shut down for nearly 10 hours as authorities investigated, and residual delays continued Thursday morning.
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I’ve hardly ever , in the last twenty years noticed the kind and amount of truck involved accidents.I 81 in Pa , where I live and work never fails to surprise ,even when the roads are good .
Such a terrible tragedy for all their loved ones. Folks, if you have an RV, check the tires. and their conditions. Too many RV’s are traveling at speeds that are unsafe even in the best of conditions. They are not a car or SUV, they are top heavy and can be unstable if they even just barely go onto the gravel edge of a road at highway speeds. With a blown out tire, it can be deadly. And sadly in this incident it was.
Slow down, check your equipment thoroughly, and expect the unexpected.