Five people are dead after the vehicle they were riding in apparently crashed into a tractor-trailer, according to local sources. Pennsylvania authorities were called to the fatal accident that claimed the lives of five people and sent a further individual to the hospital with minor injuries. For the moment, no charges have been filed in connection with this tragic accident.
Apparently, the five individuals in the car were all colleagues commuting home at the time of the accident. Police say the vehicle was headed north on Route 222 when the crash happened. The driver of the vehicle apparently lost control and crossed into the southbound lane where the vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer head-on.
The impact was so severe it caused an immediate explosion, which in turn caused the car to catch fire. All five people in the car perished. The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained only minor injuries in the blast. So far, police have not charged him for his role in the crash, and this does not seem likely moving forward.
In a situation where the driver deemed most likely to be responsible for the crash has perished in the fatal accident, obviously no criminal charges will be filed by the state of Pennsylvania. However, it is possible for the families of the other deceased victims to file wrongful death suits against the driver’s estate and against anyone else with ownership interest in the vehicle. The injured driver may also choose to file a personal injury lawsuit in the same way.
Source: ABC News, “Cops: 5 Killed in Fiery Crash Were Co-Workers Commuting Home“, March 3, 2016