The man, who stopped to pay a toll, was driving a Ford Taurus station wagon, police say. Watch video
Daniel C. Murphy was pronounced dead at the wreck after the ShopRite tractor-trailer slammed into the 2000 Ford Taurus, which became struck under the cab of the burning truck that didn't stop until hitting the road's shoulder, Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast report this morning. Murphy was reportedly paying the toll when the accident happened.
A witness said the truck rose up as it went through the tollbooth, causing damage to the toll area closest to the high-speed EZ-Pass lanes as it crushed the car.
Interstate 78 West was shut for about seven hours after the crash, which left a 200-foot-long debris field. Traffic was diverted at Exit 3 in Greenwich Township.
The driver of the truck, which had a 2011 Wabash trailer, was taken to a hospital after the crash but wasn't badly hurt, police said. The 55-year-old Allentown man, who police have not further identified, was wearing a seat belt, police said.
The crash remains under investigation, police said.
The Northampton County District Attorney's Office has been working with state police on the investigation, District Attorney John Morganelli said this morning. Assistant District Attorney Joe Lupackino was at the scene for much of Monday, Morganelli said.
The work includes interviews, looking at the truck's logs and an inspection of the tractor-trailer, he said. Investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened, he said.
At this point, no charges have been filed and the driver is not in custody, Morganelli said.
An update is possible later today or on Wednesday, he said.
"We need to do some work on it yet," he said.