1 killed and several hurt on I-78 in northwest Berks

One person was killed and several others seriously injured in a crash early Saturday on Interstate 78 in northwest Berks County.

The person killed was a 23-year-old Myerstown man, state police said. Further information was unavailable.

The dispatch occurred shortly after 2 a.m. in the westbound lanes in Bethel Township near the Lebanon County line.

It originally went out as a minivan into a tree but when police arrived it was determined to be a rollover with the occupants entrapped, according to emergency reports.

Troopers said the other five people in the vehicle were men from Lebanon.

Arriving medic crews said all the injured were somewhat responsive. Medics said there would five occupants going to Hershey Medical Center.

A helicopter was put on standby, but it was canceled. The Berks County coroner’s office was called to the scene.

Westbound traffic was detoured around the crash scene until shortly before 9 a.m.

Troopers said the minivan was westbound in the right lane and crossed the left lane and into the snow on the berm. The minivan hit fences, shrubbery and rolled onto the driver’s side before skidding into a tree, troopers said.

More details as they become available.

Anyone with information about the crash is urged to call the Hamburg state police station at 610-562-6885.

During the lanes closure, shortly after 4 a.m., a tractor-trailer had a brake fire in the westbound lanes of the interstate in Windsor Township, but traffic, typically light at that hour, was only minimally impacted.

Source: Berkshire mont