Summary

A FIERY CRASH FRIDAY CLOSES THE TUSCARORA TUNNEL ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 228408
Story Slug PA - Turnpike - Tunnel - Closed
Location Tuscarora Mountain, Pennsylva
Format PKG
Date 4/26/2002
Archive Time 38:39
TRT 1:05
Supers Tuscarora Mountain, Pennsylvania Carl DeFebo, PA Turnpike Spokesperson Marissa Carney, Reporting
Video Description SMOKE COMING FROM THE TUNNEL, FIREFIGHTERS, MEN IN ORANGE VESTS CHECKING OUT THE SITE, CRASH SITE, MACHINES LIFTING LARGE PIECES FROM THE CRASH SITE, MAN SOT
Description A FIERY CRASH FRIDAY CLOSES THE TUSCARORA TUNNEL ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE.
Script (LEAD) PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS SHOULD AVOID DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. THAT'S THE MESSAGE FRIDAY FROM STATE POLICE FOLLOWING A TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASH AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TUSCARORA TUNNEL. MARISSA CARNEY HAS MORE. (TAKE PKG) OFFICIALS BEGAN CLOSING PARTS OF THE PIKE RIGHT AFTER THE CRASH AND THEN SHUT DOWN THE SECTION BETWEEN CARYLE AND BREEZWOOD AROUND 11 AM. TRAFFIC WAS DETOURED AT THOSE EXITS, 16 AND 12, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR SOME TIME. THE IMPACT OF THE TRACTOR-TRAILER KNOCKED OUT TWO GENERATORS AND DAMAGED TWO TRANSFORMERS, CUTTING OFF THE LIGHTING AND VENILATION SYSTEMS WITHIN THE TUNNEL. CREWS ARE WORKING IN THE UTILITY ROOM, MAKING SURE THE STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF IT ARE ALRIGHT. THEY HAVE TWO PLANS TO RESTORE ELECTRICITY, EITHER TRUCKING IN TEMPORARY LIGHTING OR DOING A QUICK FIX ON THE TRANSFORMERS. THEY'RE WORKING ON BOTH AND WILL GO WITH WHATEVER WORKS FIRST. TURNPIKE OFFICIALS CAN'T OPEN THE TUNNELS ON THE PIKE UNTIL SOME SORT OF LIGHTING IS UP AND RUNNING. (SOT-DEFEBO "It is a priority that we're trying to work quickly here to make this happen as soon as we can. We're asking peole to bear with us to make sure the road's safe, the tunnel's safe and everything is cleaned up as much as possible before prior to us putting traffic into the tunnel.") (TAG) THE DRIVER OF THE RIG WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH. RECAP
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