Post date: Feb 14, 2014 11:5:6 PM
"Like a Hollywood production": A massive multi-car pileup injures at least 30 people and shuts down traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES(FEBRUARY 14, 2014) (NBC) - The U.S. East Coast dug out on Friday (February 14) from the final wallop of a deadly storm that caused chaos from the South to New England. InPennsylvania, the turnpike was littered with twisted metal from up to 100 vehicles in multiple accidents that injured at least 30 people. The road had to be closed during the morning commute, causing a 7-mile (11-km) backup. Stranded drivers described the disaster as something out of a movie.
"I was in the right lane. All of a sudden, there was an 18-wheeler up here sideways, cars just start slamming on their brakes and cars just smashing in everything, everybody I should say. It was like a Hollywood production. I was able to get to the side of the road, I thought I cleared everything and then, I got slammed," saidPennsylvania resident Terry Foley."It felt unreal. I've seen cars flying this way and that way, some cars turning around, everybody was hitting everybody. It was complete mayhem," a truck driver said.
Ambulances rushed to treat people in dozens of flipped-over cars, jack-knifed tractor-trailers and vehicles that skidded off the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Later in the day towaway trucks weaved their way through the mangled mess to carry away the damaged vehicles. Commmuter Susan Leonard was stranded for eight hours and said she was looking forward to seeing her kids.
"I just want to go home, it's been an ordeal," she said.
"I just want to get out of here. I am very fortunate I just have a little damage on the back of my car. I don't even know who hit me, I don't even care."
The first accident happened around 0825est (1225gmt) followed by a chain reaction of a series of crashes that resulted in a 5 mile (8 km) long stretch of wrecked vehicles.
Slick conditions paired with a sun glare may have contributed to the accidents.