Police: I-78 crash sent 73 to hospital, involved 64 vehicles

FREDERICKSBURG, Pa. — More than 70 people were treated following the huge pileup on a central Pennsylvania interstate that killed three people, authorities said Sunday.

The names of those killed would be released later in the day, said Trooper Justin Summa of the state police barracks in Lebanon County.

Saturday's crash on Interstate 78 during a snow squall involved 64 vehicles, including a dozen commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers and box trucks, Summa said. A total of 73 people were taken for treatment at 11 hospitals.

At least one person remained in critical condition with injuries from the crash. Penn State Hershey Medical Center said two others taken to the hospital with critical injuries had improved and most of the 13 people brought to the hospital had been discharged.

The interstate reopened Sunday morning following the pileup, which left tractor-trailers, box trucks and cars tangled together across three traffic lanes and into the snow-covered median about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Trooper Adam Reed said investigators believe that "passing snow squalls played a role in causing the crash."

Police said more than 70 people were taken to a warming shelter operated by the American Red Cross at a firehouse in the area.

Among those caught in the pile up was the Penn State-Lehigh Valley men's basketball team. They were heading to a game in New Kensington when their chartered bus was hit by a tractor-trailer. The school reported no serious injuries.

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This story has been corrected to say the interstate reopened Sunday, not Saturday.