Tonight I heard a terrifying series of events playing out on emergency scanners..

Submitted by DaddyHarne t3_zu29az in Pennsylvania

I heard some chatter about a wrong way driver on the PA turnpike. Soon after I heard agencies stating there had been a collision involving said vehicle, an 18 wheeler, and there are indications of multiple fatalities. This would be Lancaster county area that I heard this happening. I can’t imagine the horror. Going to bed hurting for the victims and their families, it’s just awful and at this time of year especially. Hug the ones you love.

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purplespoo t1_j1gskqa wrote

Horrible… wasn’t there a pile up near Pitt or Phil earlier today?

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jillianpikora t1_j1gsr2z wrote

Wow, that sounds horrible. I'm a reporter in that area. I'm off for the holidays. But took a quick look into this and you may have been hearing two separate accidents. I'm seeing a commercial truck crash on the turnpike and I'm seeing three medics called to: New Holland Ave & E Ross St. Manheim Township. Lots of prayers needed for those people tonight, and for all those traveling this holiday season.

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Whootwhoot21 t1_j1hkich wrote

An incident like this happened on the non-toll highway near me this week. It’s awful when it happens. Something like this happens every couple years near me. The last two accidents involved alcohol and fatalities on the part of the wrong way driver. Always tough to read about, let along be on scene.

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AFirefighter11 t1_j1ig2dt wrote

I saw the dispatch go out for that. A similar thing happened to me while getting off 202N at 401. The car came up past us while we were getting off the off-ramp. I flashed him, then called 9-1-1. Didn't see any dispatches for accidents over the next hour or so. Figuring he realized his mistake and turned around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL1gyXOUJSg

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hufarted-me t1_j1iluwe wrote

How does a semi truck get going the wrong way on the turnpike? Drive the wrong way out of a service plaza?

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jillianpikora t1_j1iwrwu wrote

Replying to jillianpikora (#1,042,738)

Actually I cannot find any articles or police releases on this...very odd, but people were off last night and many Public Information Officers are out sick or on vacation so there might be a release on this in the future. I'll keep an eye out.

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MooDonkey t1_j1iymhd wrote

Replying to hufarted-me (#1,041,709)

Truck driver here, and I'm wondering this, too. Passed the wreck in the early hours, assuming they got on at 286 that is such a clearly-laid out exit. They were on it for miles, too. I suspect we will be hearing a lot more about this one.

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MetaphysicalMayhem t1_j1k619a wrote

So, hypothetically, if you were driving a truck … or a car … or an SUV … or anything … and you somehow managed to pull out onto the turnpike with vehicles going the opposite fucking way, wouldn’t you just pull over right away? Like, immediately? And go, “Holy fucking shit! I just drove onto the Turnpike going the wrong way! Even if you’re drunk, or stoned, or high, or suffering from angina?

Fuck.

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edjennersmilkmaid t1_j1kmr1j wrote

Wrong-way drivers seem to be entirely too common on PA highways. A few years back there was at least one a week on I-81 in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, and several fatalities as a result. It baffles me how often it manages to happen, and why on earth the drivers keep going for MILES despite obvious signs that they’re going the wrong way (aside from alcohol or other impairment).

Feeling for those families tonight and praying for their comfort.

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