CENTRE COUNTY – A two-vehicle followed by a four-vehicle accident closed Interstate 99 for approximately four hours Saturday afternoon in Centre County, the Philipsburg-based state police reported.
According to the accident report, Larry McCaulley of Altoona lost control of his vehicle while traveling northbound on I-99 near mile marker 58. The McCaulley vehicle rear-ended that driven by Clinton Randle of State College, police said.
Immediately following the accident, police said Bryan Cartwright of Huntingdon began to apply his brakes at which time he lost control of his pick-up truck. His pick-up truck rear-ended a vehicle driven by Kevin Charnetski of Nanticoke.
Police said that the Cartwright vehicle spun 360 degrees and came to a rest on the centerline, while the Charnetski vehicle straddled the fog line off the east berm.
At that time, John Edward of Umatilla, FL observed the accident and applied the brakes of his tractor, which hauled a utility trailer. Edward’s trailer started to jackknife, as he attempted to maneuver between the two, stopped vehicles. However, his trailer struck the passenger’s side of the Cartwright pick-up truck and spun it 180 degrees, police said.
Police said that Edward’s trailer continued to jackknife across both lanes of travel. Kellie Porter of Coal Center had witnessed the initial accident with the McCaulley and Randle vehicles and pulled to the east berm, bringing her vehicle to a stop. Edward’s trailer then struck the Porter vehicle.
Police said that Edward’s tractor and trailer came to a final rest across both lanes and faced west. Following this accident, multiple vehicles slid from the roadway or collided with each other, police said.
The Philipsburg- and Holidaysburg-based state police attempted to clear the wreckage. Police were assisted at the scene by Bald Eagle and Port Matilda fire departments and several emergency medical service agencies from Centre and Blair counties.
All operators were wearing their safety belts at the time of the accident. No severe injuries were reported, but numerous vehicles were towed from the scene, police said.