The Pennsylvania State Police have released details of the fiery crash involving two tractor trailers in Schuylkill County on Monday.
According to Pennsylvania State Police Troop L Public Information Officer Trooper David Boehm, the crash occurred around 9:00am, on Monday, April 12th, 2021 in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 at mile marker 113.5 in Foster Township.
Trooper Beohm said that a tractor trailer was that was operated by Andre Johnson, 40, of College Station, TX, was disabled on the right shoulder of the highway with proper safety triangles in place.
A service truck was at the scene parked in front of the tractor trailer to change the left front tire on the truck. At the time of the crash, the serviceman, Mark Hoy, 53, of Pottsville, had completed his work and was gathering his equipment.
A tractor trailer, uninvolved in the crash, slowed in the right lane as it approached the disabled truck.
A third tractor trailer, driven by Marc McDonough, 66, of Dundalk, MD, was traveling behind and attempted to slow but couldn't fast enough and swerved to the right impacting the rear of the disabled trailer.
At the moment of impact, the McDonough's tractor trailer gas tank exploded engulfing both tractor trailers in flames.
The impact also pushed the parked tractor trailer into Hoy throwing him approximately 25 feet.
Hoy and McDonough both sustained injuries and were transported to an area hospital by Minersville EMS and Schuylkill EMS.
Johnson was not injured.
The crash closed Interstate 81 northbound all day until the scene was cleared at 7:00pm that evening.
Multiple fire departments worked the scene that day battling the fire as well as assisting with the tanker task force for water.