Driver involved in crash struck in second crash on Interstate 81

VULCAN – A driver involved in a crash on the Interstate was seriously injured when state troopers said he was struck while checking on the occupants of the other vehicle involved.

The first crash happened around 6am Monday on Interstate 81 Southbound near Exit 131A in Mahanoy Township.

According to State Police at Frackville, Carson Gaston, 48, of Lehighton, was headed south in a 1994 Freightliner.

A pickup truck — a 2000 Ford F-150 driven by Jared Longenecker, 32, of Palmyra — failed to slow down for the slower moving Freightliner and struck the rig.

The pickup truck was disabled in the middle of both southbound lanes while the Freightliner was driven to the west shoulder of the highway.

Neither Longenecker or his passenger were injured, troopers said.

Gaston was struck and seriously injured as he was checking on Longenecker.

Thomas Buist, 62, of Gananoque, Ontario, was headed south in a 2023 Ford F-150 when he slowed to avoid debris from the previous crash.

Jonothan Parker, 28, of East Stroudsburg, was following behind in a 2007 Kia Spectra and didn’t slow down, striking Gaston and then Buist’s pickup truck.

Both Gaston and Buist were seriously injured and taken to area hospitals.

Parker was not injured.

Troopers said Parker and Longenecker will both be cited for the crash.

The post Driver involved in crash struck in second crash on Interstate 81 first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.