PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Drivers are facing a traffic nightmare after a series of crashes on I-95 northbound in Chester, Delaware County Monday morning.
The first crash happened around 6 a.m. Monday on I-95 between Edgemont Avenue and the Upland Street overpass. Police initially reported that it was a wrong-way crash, but Pennsylvania State Police now say the incident was actually two crashes that happened one after the other.
First, the driver of a Honda Pilot SUV tried to switch lanes but hit a Pepsi truck from behind. The truck driver lost control and slammed into the middle barrier.
Two people in the SUV — which was determined to be the at-fault vehicle — actually got out and fled on foot, according to state police, but they later turned themselves in. That driver is being charged.
The soda truck driver was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
The center barrier on I-95 was completely destroyed because of the impact, and some of the damage spilled over onto the southbound lanes.
Then, there was another crash right behind the first, while traffic was at a standstill. According to state police, a Hyundai Santa Cruz tried to make a U-turn — heading south on the northbound lanes — but hit two cars in the process.
That wrong-way driver also got out and fled on foot. Police are still looking for that driver.
No one was hurt in the second crash.
The Pepsi truck was charred and the crash left a whole lot of debris on the interstate, including oil. Crews tossed a sand-based substance all over the road to try to soak it up, PennDOT said.
The northbound side was completely closed for about six hours until PennDOT was able to open one lane. The left lane on the southbound side was also partially closed due to barrier debris that spilled over.
Police are still investigating the crashes.
Editor's note: The initial police report said the driver of the Pepsi truck was going the wrong way on I-95 and crashed into the SUV, and that the Pepsi driver was injured. Police later determined that was incorrect.