HENRY CLAY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Three people were killed and five others were hospitalized after a fiery crash involving a tractor-trailer and two passenger vehicles along Route 40 near the Youghiogheny River Lake on Monday evening.

According to CBS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State Police said the crash occurred when a tractor-trailer traveling eastbound crossed into the westbound lanes near Laurel Road, striking a Ford pickup head-on. The pickup then collided with a Chevrolet Express van, setting off a chain reaction that left debris and flames across the roadway.

Police identified the victims as 66-year-old Delroy Henry of Hollywood, Florida, who was driving the tractor-trailer; 31-year-old Nikki Jo Rugg of Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, who was driving the pickup; and 34-year-old Michael Brown of Martinsburg, West Virginia, a passenger in the van. The remaining five passengers in the van, identified as employees of CSX Transportation, were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker said the steep grades and sharp curves along this stretch of Route 40 make it unsafe for heavy trucks, calling the recurring crashes a “public health problem.” Baker is pushing for a review of truck traffic on the road and wants to see commercial tractor-trailers banned from the area.

“This is becoming a public health problem,” Baker said. “It’s going to be my mission to stop all heavy interstate tractor-trailers on this two-lane road.”

The crash remains under investigation by state police. Route 40 was closed in both directions for several hours as emergency crews worked to extinguish the fire and clear the wreckage.

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