A driver paying a toll died after a big rig slammed into his car causing a fiery wreck that left two people hurt.
On Tuesday morning, Pennsylvania State Police identified the driver of the station wagon that was struck at the tollbooths on westbound Interstate 78 in Williams Township, Pa.
Police say Daniel Murphy of Hackettstown, N.J. was stopped in toll lane 4 of I--78 near Morgan Hill Road when a ShopRite tractor-trailer driven by an unidentified 55-year-old from Allentown, Pa. rammed into Murphy's 200 Ford Taurus wagon.
The force of the crash carried both vehicles through the tollbooth -- Murphy's wagon becoming stuck under the big rig. Parts of the wreckage slammed into the tollbooth before coming to a stop several lanes over against an embankment and bursting into flames sending smoke billowing into the air.
"It's a terrible sight," said Pennsylvania State Trooper Marc Allen. "We have at least one fatality."
Murphy, 65, was trapped in the wreckage and died at the scene. The tractor-trailer driver got out and was transported to a local hospital, according to ShopRite.
A tollbooth worker was also injured when that worker run towards the fiery crash with a fire extinguisher.
Witnesses claimed they saw the tractor-trailer swerving and moving quickly before the crash. Police did not confirm those details.
Police stopped westbound traffic and closed the tollbooths for hours. The backup spread all the way back to New Jersey where police diverted cars off the highway.
Late Monday afternoon, two lanes on I-78 westbound reopened. The four remaining lanes reopened around 6:30 p.m.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
ShopRite released a brief statement that in parts read: "...Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families of all involved in this terrible accident."
Photo Credit: Bryan Ellis