GLENDON, Pa. — A New Jersey man pushing his disabled SUV on Interstate 78 in Northampton County late Monday night was fatally struck by a tractor-trailer, state police said.
The crash happened at 10:15 p.m. near mile marker 74.3 in the eastbound lanes of the highway, according to a release.
The victim was identified as 33-year-old Tyler R. Kolaja, of Hamburg, New Jersey.
The man pushing the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene.State police release
Investigators said Kolaja was pushing a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox in the right lane of travel after the vehicle ran out of gas. A woman, also from New Jersey, was inside the vehicle steering while it was being pushed.
Police said an eastbound tractor-trailer struck the SUV and also collided with another tractor-trailer that was disabled on the shoulder of the highway.
Kolaja was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. He died of multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was accidental, said Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek.
The woman was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital Anderson campus with unknown injuries.
The eastbound lanes of I-78 were closed overnight while police investigated the scene, with traffic detoured onto Route 33.
All lanes of I-78 reopened around 4 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
The crash remains under investigation by PSP Belfast with assistance from the Northampton County Coroner’s Office.
It was the second fatal crash on a major Lehigh Valley roadway in three days.
An Ohio man was killed early Saturday morning in a high-speed crash on Route 22 in Northampton County.
David Puchala, 27, of Youngstown, Ohio, was the driver of a car that was traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph prior to the crash about 2:55 a.m., state police said.
