CLEARFIELD- A fatal accident occurred early Friday morning on Interstate 80, according to state police.
The accident occurred when a vehicle driven by Jaime Rodriquez of North Carolina jackknifed along the north berm of I-80 at mile-marker 119, eastbound. William Emerson of Delaware stopped and parked in the left lane, left his vehicle and checked on the welfare of Rodriguez. While Emerson and Rodriguez were standing outside their vehicles, a vehicle driven by Viral Patel of Ohio struck Rodriguez’s vehicle with its front end.
Patel was able to exit the vehicle, but his passenger was not able to exit. A vehicle driven by a Minnesota man struck Patel’s vehicle with its trailer while the passenger was still inside. Both vehicles continued a distance before coming to rest in the middle of I-80. Patel’s vehicle then became engulfed in flame.
Patel’s passenger was pronounced dead.
Police were assisted at the scene by Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Co., Hyde Volunteer Fire Company, and Pennsylvania state police DuBois.