Pennsylvania State Police said the victim's identity is being withheld until next of kin is notified. Watch video
Authorities are not releasing the identity of the driver pronounced dead after being struck from behind by a tractor-trailer this morning at the Interstate 78 toll plaza in Williams Township.
Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast tonight released a brief statement on the crash that occurred at 8:07 a.m. in Lane 4 of the toll plaza on I-78 West.
The release does not identify the deceased driver, saying the identity is being withheld until next of kin is notified.
Police identified the driver of the tractor-trailer only as a 55-year-old Allentown man.
Police labeled as unknown both the deceased's vehicle and the make and model of the tractor-trailer cab.
The collision sent both vehicles through the toll plaza to the north shoulder of the road, police said. Both vehicles caught fire and the driver of the vehicle that was struck was entrapped. That driver was pronounced dead at the scene while the tractor-trailer driver was taken to an area hospital.
I-78 westbound was shut down for hours while police investigated and cleaned up the scene, but the interstate and two E-ZPass Express lanes reopened about 3 p.m. Three of the four dual cash/E-ZPass lanes reopened at 6:25 p.m., Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission spokesman Joe Donnelly said.
Lane 4, closest to the E-ZPass Express lanes on the southerly side of the plaza, remained closed, he said.
Calls for comment to the Northampton County Coroner's Office have not been returned.