On April 25, 2016, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Kelly O’Brien, 18, was driving eastbound on the Pennsylvania, Turnpike when a truck also driving eastbound crashed and overturned on top of Ms. O’Brien’s vehicle.
The tractor-trailer was carrying 20,000 pounds of detergent. Ms. O’Brien was trapped in her car. Crews had to use a crane to lift the truck off the wreck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck driver was transported to Aria Health’s Torresdale Campus for treatment of minor injuries. The crash is currently under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The current federal weight limit for a large interstate truck is 80,000 pounds, but for some states, there are exemptions and permits allowing even heavier trucks to travel on our roadways. Bigger, heavier trucks are more likely to be in a crash, more likely to cause damage to our roads and bridges, and more likely to result in an injury or death.
To find more information please visit the website: https://trucksafety.org or send an email to info@trucksafety.org