Efrain Martinez-Vargas,Cortney Hurry Obituary, Death; – Two individuals lost their lives in two distinct accidents on Interstate 80 in Montour County on Friday.
The Montour County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as Efrain Martinez-Vargas, 48, from Moosic, and Cortney Hurry, 22, from Lewisburg. According to State Police, snow squalls were responsible for the initial accident.
A pileup involving sixteen vehicles occurred near Danville at approximately 2:40 a.m. on Friday. Martinez-Vargas was fatally injured when a collision between a tractor-trailer, which skidded on black ice, and a box truck triggered a chain reaction. Two additional individuals sustained serious injuries.
Images captured by members of the Valley Township Volunteer Fire Department depict the mangled wreckage, with some vehicles showing signs of fire damage.
Traffic was initially rerouted at the Danville exit; however, a second accident transpired around 10:00 a.m. near mile marker 224, just west of the Buckhorn exit. In this incident, a vehicle operated by Hurry collided with the rear of a flatbed tractor-trailer, resulting in her death from the injuries incurred.
Nexstar’s WBRE/WYOU interviewed a woman whose son, a truck driver, was involved in the earlier crash.
“He mentioned that there was ice on the road, and the driver behind him was speeding and struck him. He slid, hit the vehicle in front of him, and then he said he jumped out of the truck. As he exited, another truck was approaching, and he had to leap over the rail,” recounted Doreen Clarke, whose son was involved in the 16-vehicle incident.
State Police are actively investigating both accidents. The westbound lanes of Interstate 80 have since been reopened.
