A four-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in East Hanover Township early Thursday morning left a Monroe County man dead and others injured.
James Stokes, 27, of Cresco, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lebanon County Coroner, according to a report by Pennsylvania State Police.
The crash occurred at 2:27 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, near mile marker 84.8, the report said.
According to the release from state police investigator Thomas Leganza, a northbound Kenworth Northwest tractor-trailer jackknifed after rear-ending a Peterbilt tractor-trailer in the right lane. A 2020 Subaru Outback then collided with the rear of the Peterbilt, ending up in the left lane where it was struck by a 2012 Hyundai Elantra, which caught fire.
Stokes was a passenger in the Subaru, police said. The drivers of the Subaru and the Peterbilt were both taken to Hershey Medical Center for treatment, the report noted, while the drivers of the Kenworth truck and the Hyundai were not injured.
All drivers and passengers were using seatbelts.
PennDOT officials said the tractor-trailers were carrying beer and fertilizer at the time of the crash, according to reports. Life Lion and South Central EMS both assisted at the scene.
Police have asked anyone with information or camera footage of the crash to contact the Jonestown barracks at 717-865-2194.
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