Hazleton, PA : Wrong way driver on interstate causes multiple crashes on April, Tuesday 4th 2017

A wrong-way driver on Interstate 81 caused multiple crashes Tuesday morning, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman said.

Just before 11 a.m., the driver induced the wrecks on the northbound lane near mile marker 181 in Moosic, the spokesman James May said.

Witnesses reported seeing an elderly woman in a silver Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix sedan drive the wrong way up the Exit 182 Davis Street off ramp, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Mark Keyes said.

The driver then traveled on I-81 northbound in the wrong direction.

An oncoming driver stopped hard to avoid her, causing a three-vehicle crash behind the braking car.

The driver then performed a K-turn and drove north, with the flow of traffic, without stopping, witnesses said.

No one involved in the crash required medical treatment, Keyes said, and the incident is under investigation.

Investigators are analyzing video of the Pontiac sedan from a witness’ dashboard camera, Keyes said.

Last summer after a rash of fatal wrong-way crashes, PennDOT made nearly $800,000 in upgrades to interstate on ramps, including added “Wrong Way” signs and red reflectors, May said.

This is the first reported instance of a wrong-way driver on the interstate highways since then, May said.

Anyone with information on the silver Pontiac sedan or the female driver should call state police at 570-963-3156.

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Wrong way driver on interstate causes multiple crashes