Pennsylvania Turnpike Pileups, Interstate Crashes Paralyze Traffic

Chain-reaction pileups involving dozens of vehicles shut down portions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 78 in snowy eastern Pennsylvania.

Turnpike officials said Thursday that 35 vehicles piled up at related accidents, blocking westbound lanes and causing a 4-mile backup between the Morgantown and Reading exits in Berks County.

Turnpike spokeswoman Renee Colborn said backed-up vehicles were cleared and about 10 people were transported to hospitals, with no reports of fatalities.

Colborn said the highway reopened after 5 p.m., the Associated Press reported.

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Meanwhile, Pennsylvania State Police said about 40 vehicles piled up in multiple Thursday morning crashes on I-78 and shut down the westbound lanes in Berks County between mileposts 35 and 40.

Police said the accident happened around 8:45 a.m. and there were no fatalities reported, although one person was flown to a hospital by helicopter.

Trooper David Beohm said 25 people were taken to hospitals and 44 were treated at the scene.

The lanes reopened after 3 p.m.

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