Two people were killed and another was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash early Friday morning on Interstate 176 in Robeson Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police and the Berks County Coroner’s Office.
The crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 176 near the Kurtz Mill Road overpass. Berks County 911 received multiple calls at 6:05 a.m. reporting the three-vehicle collision.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, a 2012 Nissan Maxima was traveling south in the right lane alongside a 2012 Audi A6, which was in the left lane, and behind a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Police said the driver of the Nissan attempted to change lanes between the other two vehicles, causing the left rear of the Nissan to strike the front right side of the Audi.
The impact forced the Audi off the left side of the roadway and into the grassy median, where it struck an embankment. Police said the vehicle then became airborne between the southbound and northbound bridges, struck the northbound side of the highway, and landed upside down between the two bridges. During the crash, the vehicle came to rest next to a creek in the 0 block of Kurtz Mill Road.
Police said the Nissan then struck the rear of the Chevrolet before both vehicles came to rest on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes.
The front-seat passenger and rear-seat passenger in the Audi were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Audi sustained serious injuries and was transported to Reading Hospital. The drivers of the Nissan and Chevrolet were not injured.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office was dispatched to the scene at 7:20 a.m. and pronounced two adult men deceased. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin.
State police said the driver of the Nissan was taken into custody following the crash and has been charged with homicide by motor vehicle and other related offenses.
Autopsies for the two victims are scheduled for Monday morning at Reading Hospital and Medical Center and will be performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office thanked the Gibraltar Fire Company, Geigertown Fire Company and Exeter Township Fire Department for their technical assistance in accessing the crash scene and safely recovering the victims.
Pennsylvania State Police Reading are continuing to investigate the crash.
