At least twenty people were hurt when several tractor trailers and dozens of personal motor vehicles piled up on a stretch of Pennsylvania Interstate 76 between Bensalem and Willow Grove.

Local hospitals, such as Doylestown and Abington Memorial, have been inundated with injuries in their emergency rooms as a result of the accidents. A spokesperson from Abington Memorial told reporters that they initially received sixteen patients into their ER and more followed after the first wave. To her recollection, eleven people were treated with minor injuries, some of whom were released, and five were considered trauma patients and listed in serious condition. St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne reported that they were treating seven people, four women and three men, for minor injuries, and the numbers for Doylestown Hospital have not yet been released. 

The accident happened at around 8 a.m. Friday morning, as more than a foot of snow from the day before left treacherous driving conditions. The speed restrictions that were set forth during the storm were disregarded at 6 a.m. for morning rush-hour, but many think they should have been left in place, considering the ice that still covers much of the turnpike and many other major roads in the area.

Some drivers were stuck behind the accident for as long as three hours before the PA Turnpike Commission began rerouting vehicles through Willow Grove and Bensalem. Crews were called to remove the Jersey barriers so that cars could turn around and get off at the nearest exit before being rerouted, many into downtown Philadelphia.

One witness said that traffic was moving along as usual at about 30 miles per hour when people began slamming on their brakes around mile marker 348, noting that there was at least a half inch of ice on the road at the time of the accident. He said that the ice, mixed with falling snow and the glare of the sun at that time of day, is what likely caused the accident.

Efforts from people who walked down off the overpasses to give drivers food and drinks were greatly appreciated by those in need. A few people even set up makeshift bathrooms off the side of the highway.

Although it is unclear as to who began the initial pile-up, witnesses told police that some of the tractor trailers appeared to be going too fast given the conditions. Police are continuing to investigate and at this time no deaths have been reported. The road is currently clear and there are no plans of placing another speed restriction on drivers as of yet.

Source: Bucks County Courier Times, "More than 20 injured in Bucks turnpike pileup" 14 February 2014