PA Turnpike Crash: 5 Dead, 60 Injured As Tour Bus Flips

GREENSBURG, PA - Five people were killed and at least 60 injured in a multi-vehicle crash early Sunday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The accident happened at 3:40 a.m. at milepost 86 in Westmoreland County, which is about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh, Turnpike Commission spokesman Carl DeFebo said. The crash, which closed both directions of the Turnpike for hours, involved a tour bus, two tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles.

The cause was not immediately known, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were dispatched to the site.

An 86-mile stretch of the turnpike between the New Stanton and Breezewood exists was closed in both directions. The turnpike reopened Sunday evening, more than 15 hours after the accident.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stephen Limani said the tour bus originated out of New Jersey and was destined for Cincinnati.

Limani, in a Sunday press conference, said the victims ranged in age from 7 years old to age 60 or older.

He said the bus was traveling on downhill grade and was unable to negotiate a corner. The bus went up an embankment, rolled over and was struck by two tractor-trailers.

Another truck collided with those two tractor-trailers, and another passenger vehicle was involved, he said.