Two Die in Tractor Trailer Crash on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County

Two men died in a tractor trailer crash on Interstate 81 in Frailey Township, Schuylkill County late Wednesday.

Wednesday's incidents began around 1:30pm when a truck overturned on Interstate 81 southbound between Hegins (Exit 112) and Tower City (Exit 107).  This crash caused a large mess after it dumped into contents on the highway and into a nearby creek.  State Police have yet to release details on this crash but the incident caused a large backlog of traffic that extended almost 5 miles to the Minersville exit.  The highway was closed until almost 12:30am, Thursday.

But around 8:00pm, within the backlog of traffic, a tractor trailer traveling south slammed into a tractor trailer sitting in the backlogged traffic.  This crash caused a second backlog after the Interstate was then closed from the Minersville Exit to the Hegins Exit.

The Schuylkill County Coroner's office confirmed that two men inside one of the trucks were pronounced dead at the scene and a CT scan is scheduled for them Thursday afternoon.

Details on the crash or the victims' identities have not been released.

Interstate 81 fully reopened just before dawn Thursday.