Two dead, 1 injured after tanker truck catches fire on PA Turnpike in Worcester Township
WORCESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania State Police have confirmed at least two people are dead and one person was taken to the hospital with injuries after a tanker truck caught fire on the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension Saturday morning.
The tanker fire that shut down all lanes on the Turnpike's Northeast Extension in Worcester Township in Montgomery County has since been extinguished.
Pennsylvania State Police confirms at least two people died in the fire. One person was injured and taken to a local hospital with burns. There is no word on their condition at this time.
Authorities are now allowing people who were evacuated from Shady Lane and Oak Terrace to return to their homes.
The accident was reported just before 11 a.m. between the Lansdale exit and the Mid-County Interchange.
Chopper 3 was above the scene to capture fire crews working to extinguish the accident.
Scores of debris have been reported on the highway.
The PA Turnpike announced an emergency road closure on their X account at 3:37 p.m.
EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE on #PATurnpike I-476 North & South between Mid-County Exit #20 & Lansdale Exit #31 will be Closed through the evening rush hour tonight. There is no ETA to open the roadway. Seek alternate routes or see below for the recommended detour routes ⬇… pic.twitter.com/o5dA97pzNe
— PA Turnpike Alerts (@PATurnpikeAlert) October 21, 2023
"EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE on #PATurnpike I-476 North & South between Mid-County Exit #20 & Lansdale Exit #31 will be Closed through the evening rush hour tonight. There is no ETA to open the roadway," the post read.
They also included a graphic on alternate routes and detour directions for local drivers.