Overturned Tractor Trailer Crash Leads To Closure Of Inbound Lanes Of Parkway East, Prompts Major Traffic Delays
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- An early morning tractor trailer crash had parts of the Parkway East closed for hours and cleanup efforts stretched into the later morning.
The roadway was closed near the Edgewood/Swissvale exit for several hours after the crash happened around 4:40 a.m. Tuesday. It had traffic at a standstill for hours.
"It's not the norm. It's been a while since it's been shut down for hours," nearby neighbor Joe Matta said.
The driver of the truck was reportedly able to get out of the vehicle on his own.
Part of the trailer stretched into the outbound lanes. Some of its cargo spilled into the road and there was also damage to the median. For several hours, the inbound lanes were closed while the outbound lanes had one lane open due to emergency vehicles blocking the other lane.
Tow trucks are now on scene. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/J77Zd51VDt
— Chris Hoffman (@NewsmanChris) October 19, 2021
Tow trucks arrived shortly after 5 a.m. Just after 7:30 a.m., both the truck cab as well as the trailer were uprighted. The outbound lanes of the roadway reopened around 7:45 a.m. and one of the inbound lanes reopened just after 8:30 a.m. State police still had to periodically close it as cleanup and their investigation continued.
"Just came down to see what's going on. Looks like they have everything cleaned up," Matta said.
????Traffic Alert - Parkway East - Allegheny County
— Trooper Forrest Allison (@PSPTroopBPIO) October 19, 2021
I 376 WB completely shut down at mm 77.4 Brinton Rd and 2 lanes EB shutdown due to a tractor trailer rollover. Several hour minimal shut down. Please seek alternate routes.
There's been no word what led up to the crash.
"It looks pretty miserable, but it looks like they got it cleaned up a little bit quicker than when I checked my phone on the walk down," Matta said.
The highway reopened completely at 1 p.m.
Stay with KDKA for more on this developing story.