A devastating crash on Interstate 476, also known as Turnpike Northeast Extension, caused chaos and claimed the lives of three individuals on Saturday morning, according to state police. The incident involved a tanker truck and two cars, resulting in a massive fire that engulfed the vehicles. The northbound side of Interstate 476, between Mid-County and Lansdale in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, was completely shut down as a result of the accident.

Authorities revealed that the sequence of events began when a vehicle with a flat tire came to a stop in the right lane of the highway. Another vehicle behind it also stopped, activating its hazard lights. Unfortunately, the truck was unable to stop in time and collided with both vehicles, resulting in a fiery inferno. The commercial tanker truck, which was carrying jet fuel, and the person driving what investigators referred to as “Unit 2” were killed instantly. On Monday, state police announced that a third person, also in Unit 2, had succumbed to their injuries. The severity of the crash and subsequent fire has made it difficult to confirm the identities of the deceased.

Images and videos shared on social media showcased a massive black cloud of smoke billowing from the scene, obscuring the highway with debris. Emergency personnel rushed to the location at 10:24 a.m., and videos captured by @newsguyPhilly, later published on various platforms including Fox News Digital, depicted firefighters bravely battling the blaze.

Motorists found themselves trapped on the road for hours, causing miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Ed McFarland, one of the drivers caught in the gridlock, expressed frustration, stating, "We're going nowhere fast. I can't see anything but stopped traffic and people out of their cars. The smoke is gone at this point."

Southbound lanes were finally reopened on Saturday evening, with the northbound lanes following suit by early Sunday. However, the official PA Turnpike X account tweeted at 12:01 p.m. that firefighters were still working to bring the fire under control using water and foam. Due to the damage and ongoing fire suppression efforts, authorities were unable to allow traffic to travel north. They planned to u-turn the trapped queue of vehicles once it was deemed safe to do so, but no timeframe was provided.

The PA Turnpike announced that an extended road closure would be in effect in both the northbound and southbound directions as emergency personnel dealt with the fuel in the tanker. The stranded drivers were advised to remain in their vehicles until the active scene was under control. The PA Turnpike X account continued to provide updates on travel alerts, lane closures, and detours, urging patience and reminding motorists to dial *11 (star 11) for assistance or in case of emergencies.

As noon approached, PA Turnpike Alerts reported that firefighters were still working to contain the blaze using water and foam. The PA Turnpike X account's ongoing thread provided real-time traffic updates, ensuring that drivers stayed informed about the situation.