UPDATED: Oct. 23, 6:23 a.m.
A third person has died after a fiery tanker truck crash over the weekend on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
State police say there was a car with a flat tire in the right northbound lane. The car behind it had its flashers on and had slowed or stopped. That's when troopers say a truck hauling jet fuel plowed into the cars and exploded into flames.
The truck driver was killed, as was the person behind the wheel of the car with its hazards on. Now authorities say a passenger in that car has died.
Original story follows:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two people are dead following a fiery fuel tanker crash in Montgomery County that left both sides of the turnpike closed down for several hours.
Pennsylvania State Police say the fatal crash happened around 11 a.m. near the Lansdale exit on the Northeast Extension.
They say a driver operating a jet fuel tanker truck crashed into the back of a vehicle that slowed down after the driver in front got a flat tire.
Officials say the driver of the truck and the vehicle it crashed into died at the scene.
Flames from the accident could be seen miles away — leaving all lanes closed and with fuel spills that began to leak into sewers.
Turnpike drivers had to take detours until the Southbound lanes reopened Saturday evening. Northbound lanes remained closed into Saturday evening.
Officials evacuated nearby residents on Shady Lane and Oak Terrace out of caution. They have since allowed them to return to their homes.
The victims' identities have not been released yet.