HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) says four people are dead and one man was sent to the hospital after a Hazle Township crash that led to a fatal car fire.
In a release, troopers say just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, crews were called to a crash on the Cando Expressway, or State Route 924, west of its intersection with Oakridge Road.
During their investigation, state police say that the driver of the car was traveling north on the Cando Expressway, lost control, and crossed over into the oncoming lane.
Troopers explained that the car then began to spin, left the roadway to the right, hitting multiple trees, then spun around and came to a stop on its passenger side.
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The car was then engulfed in flames, trapping the five occupants, and passersby were able to free a 21-year-old man from the blaze, state police say.
Troopers went on to say the four unidentified passengers of the car were unable to leave the car fire and were pronounced dead on the scene.
State police say the passengers who died in the fire were unable to be identified due to the extent of their injuries and are pending identification by the coroner.
Courtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob KadluboskiCourtesy of Bob Kadluboski
The man pulled from the car was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for treatment of their injuries, the release says.
Officials told 28/22 News the current status of the injured man is unknown, and the roadway reopened at about 7:30 a.m.
Firefighters say the flames were so intense, they couldn't reach the victims in time.
They called it one of the worst scenes they've ever seen.
"I've been doing this probably 23 years, and I would say that this is one of the worst scenes that I've been at. You know, it has that impact on everybody else too. Hopefully they're gonna be a little bit more cautious," Hazle Township Fire and Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Jason Zoshak told 28/22 News.
This is a developing story, and 28/22 News will provide updates as new information is made available.
