SAYLORSBURG, PA – A man died after his car was hit head-on by a semi tractor trailer truck Monday, July 5, on a highway in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The deadly collision involved three vehicles and fourteen people and occurred on Route 33 in Saylorsburg, PA. The accident area is in the far eastern section of the state near the border with New Jersey, about 50 miles southeast of Scranton, PA and about 77 miles west of Newark, New Jersey.
Shortly before 8:00 a.m. Monday morning, 28 year old Jaswinder Singh of New Jersey was driving a semi trailer truck south on Route 33. Mr. Singh was driving a semi truck registered to Ryder Truck Rental based in New Jersey. At the same time 21 year old Paul Miller of Scranton was driving a 2002 Toyota Corolla north on Route 33.
At about 7:55 a.m. as the semi trailer truck passed through the town of Saylorsburg Mr. Singh apparently lost control and crossed over the grassy median and into the northbound lane directly in the path of Mr. Miller’s car. Neither of the drivers were able to maneuver to avoid a collision and the 18 wheeler truck slammed head-on into the passenger car.
A large van carrying twelve people was traveling north on the highway and crashed into the trailer of the semi truck after the initial collision. According to police four of the van’s passengers were children.
The impact of the truck accident caused both vehicles to crash into the embankment at the side of the highway. The car was almost completely crushed while the cab of the semi truck was turned backwards.
Pennsylvania State Police and local emergency workers responded to the scene of the truck accident. Mr. Miller suffered fatal injuries when the semi truck hit his car head-on and he was pronounced dead at the accident site.
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The driver and front seat passenger in the van, Jose Emilio and Maria De Leon, suffered serious injuries in the truck accident. They were treated and stabilized at the scene before being transported to a local hospital. According to police the other ten passengers in the van suffered a variety of injuries considered minor and not life threatening.
The truck driver was not injured in the multi vehicle collision.
The area surrounding the truck accident was closed for several hours while EMTs aided the victims and State Police reconstructed the incident. Highway crews worked to clear the wreckage of the three vehicles and clear any debris from the traffic lanes. All lanes on Route 33 were reopened at about 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon.
At this time authorities have not determined why the truck driver crossed over into the northbound lanes of Route 33.
No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.
For more information about Pennsylvania trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact a nationwide truck accident attorney at Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP for expert advice. For a free initial consultation, talk to a PA truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.