I-70 closed after 2 wrecks
A section of Interstate 70 near Bentleyville was closed after a tractor-trailer crash.
According to state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Valerie Petersen, state police were called to the accident about noon for a crash in the eastbound lanes, near the Bentleyville exit. Petersen said either the rear of the trailer or debris from the truck crossed into the westbound lanes, causing closures of both lanes.
According to state police, Vitaliy Kochubey of Meridian, Idaho, reportedly was distracted while taking a drink of water and lost control of his semi-tractor and trailer, striking several jersey barriers. The jersey barriers were pushed into the westbound lanes, causing closure of both lanes. The rear of the trailer also crossed into the westbound lanes before the rig slid into the eastbound lane.
According to police, Kochubey was traveling 60 mph in an active 45 mph construction zone.
Traffic was detoured between Ginger Hill and Kammerer, and motorists used Toll 43 and routes 40 or 519 for the duration of the closure. The road remained closed until about 6:45 p.m.
The closure occurred hours after a two-vehicle crash on I-70 westbound in Somerset Township near the Kammerer exit caused significant traffic delays Friday morning.
According to state police, a vehicle lost control around 4:30 a.m., crashed into the center divider then traveled back across the lanes, striking a second vehicle’s rear trailer. The first vehicle then struck the guardrail twice before coming to rest. No injuries were reported, but the wreck caused significant traffic in the westbound lanes. The incident was cleared and is under investigation.