5 Women Hit, Killed By Tractor-Trailer On Snowy PA Interstate: Reports

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, PA — Five women were killed Tuesday when they were hit by a tractor-trailer after leaving their vehicles following a crash on snowy Interstate 81, according to multiple reports citing authorities.

The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. when a minivan lost control and hit a median near mile marker 199.6 on northbound I-81 in Lackawanna County, police told The Associated Press. Four people got out of the van following the crash, the report said. A fifth person, who was following them in a separate car, also got out of her vehicle.

All were hit by a passing tractor-trailer, according to The AP.

Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland told WBRE the victims were from New York and belonged to the same family.

No additional information was immediately available.

In an interview with WNEP, trucker Janet Pohoda of Pottsville said the roads were slick from snow at the time of the crash.

"I wish everybody would just stay safe out there," Pohoda told the news station. "You know it's bad, especially if the coroners are there right now. My heart goes out to them and their family."