CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Interstate 81 Southbound lanes were closed last night due to a fatal crash that caused multiple cars to overturn in Cumberland County.
According to a release from State Police, the crash occurred on Dec. 14, 2024, at 9:43 p.m. at around mile marker 62.6 on I-81 Southbound in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County.
The release says two vehicles were traveling at high speeds and passing other motorists when one vehicle, a Honda Civic, attempted to change from the left lane, veer across the middle lane, and into the right lane.
The operator lost control of the Civic and hit the passenger side rear of another vehicle, a Hyundai Sonata, in the left lane, causing both cars to spin and roll over, per the release.
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According to the release, the Civic rotated 90 degrees and rolled over numerous times before striking a nearby tree, ejecting its operator. The vehicle was separated into multiple pieces and came to rest in the median before catching fire, the release said.
The Sonata also rolled over numerous times before resting on its roof off the left shoulder of I-81, the release added.
The release says passing drivers and witnesses pulled the ejected operator, later identified as 19-year-old Muhammad Shezal Ali, from the burning vehicle. Ali sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased on the scene.
The second operator, a 21-year-old man, was assessed by EMS but refused medical transport, per the release.
I-81 South was closed at mile marker 65 and traffic was detoured off Exit 65 until its reopening at 3:35 a.m.
The release also noted “racing on highways” as the primary violation of both drivers in the crash.
Multiple authorities assisted on the scene, including East Pennsboro EMS, Life Lion EMS, Hampden Twp. EMS, Northeast Fire Dept., Hampden Fire Dept., East Pennsboro Fire Police, Shiremanstown Fire Police, the Cumberland County Coroner’s Office, H&J Towing, the PSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, and the PSP Forensic Services Unit.
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