Pennsylvania State Police: Monroe County Route 33 crash claims three lives

Route 33 was closed for several hours between Wind Gap in Northampton County and Saylorsburg in Monroe County on Wednesday due to a 5-vehicle accident that caused multiple fatalities.

Read on for the Pocono Record's coverage throughout the day.

Pennsylvania State Police issue statement on crash, fatalities

Late Wednesday evening, Pennsylvania State Police Troop N Public Information Officer Anthony Petroski issued a release stating three people involved in the crash have been confirmed dead.

PSP's investigation of the scene determined that a tractor trailer was traveling southbound on Route 33, while a second tractor trailer and three other vehicles were headed northbound.

The tractor trailer heading southbound traveled off the west berm of the roadway, striking an embankment before re-entering the southbound lanes and traveling southeast, hitting the guiderail in the center median, and ultimately entering the northbound lanes.

The tractor trailer struck the other four vehicles on the northbound lane of Route 33 before coming to a stop.

One vehicle came to rest on the right shoulder of the northbound lane, another stopped underneath the tractor trailer which struck it facing southwest, another came to a stop in the right lane facing northeast in front of the tractor trailer, and the last vehicle came to a stop in the left lane underneath the tractor trailer facing north.

One driver was pronounced deceased at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, while a 14-year-old female passenger in another vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Another driver was pronounced deceased at Lehigh Valley Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

All vehicles involved in the crash sustained major, disabling damage, and were towed from the scene.

The Troop N Forensic Services Unit, Troop N Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialist Unit, PSP Stroudsburg Criminal Investigation Unit, Troop M Patrol Unit, PennDOT and numerous Fire Departments and EMS personnel all assisted at the scene.

"An updated news release will be disseminated at a later date, dependent on the investigation, which is still active, and may take some time," the release concludes. "Troop N would like to thank all motorists for their patience and understanding who sustained major traffic delays due to the extent of this investigation."

Monroe County Coroner confirms two dead Wednesday

Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed two people died on Wednesday as a result of the accident.

"We had one deceased at the emergency room, and one deceased on scene, which is a 14-year-old juvenile. Autopsies are scheduled for tomorrow," Yanac told the Pocono Record.

Yanac noted the teen victim was a young woman from Wilkes-Barre, and the male victim, who had been in another vehicle, was from Reading. The male victim was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono.

Tractor trailer crossed guardrail on Route 33 southbound

According to Petroski, troopers were dispatched at 10:37 a.m. Wednesday to the scene of the crash on Route 33 northbound.

“Through investigation, it was determined that a tractor trailer traveling southbound crossed over through a guardrail and went into the northbound lane, which resulted in the crash,” Petroski said.

Petroski noted five vehicles, including two tractor trailers, were involved in the crash.

Southbound traffic was “very slow in that area,” Petroski said at the time.

According to 511pa.org, as of 8:33 p.m., Route 33 north had reopened.

“This is a very serious investigation, and we have to give it the rightful process that it deserves. We understand it’s an inconvenience to people, but they have to understand we need to do our job, and we need to do it correctly, so we want to make sure the in investigation is done right,” Petroski said.

Monroe County alerts public to Route 33 closure

"Pa 33 North and South closed until further notice due to an accident," Monroe County said in a statement released via email at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday. The county sent out an update at 1:38 p.m. via email: "PA33 is closed between the Lehighton and Wind Gap exits in both directions until further notice."

Traffic was reportedly backing up onto local roadways in the area.

Motorists can check conditions on area roads by visiting 511PA.com. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pennsylvania State Police: Three dead in Monroe County Route 33 crash