UPDATE:State Police have released more information on the fatal, fiery crash on Interstate 83.
A mattress fell off a vehicle and landed in the right hand lane.
Two service trucks from S $ W Petroleum Services in Dillsburg were in the right hand lane when they both began to stop because of the mattress.
A tractor trailer behind them did not realize why they stopped and smashed into the rear of the second service truck. That pushed that service truck into the first service truck, causing the major fire.
The driver of the middle truck, Brian Jacobs, 46 of Dillsburg, was killed. It is unknown if he died on impact or from the fire.
The driver of the tractor trailer, Michael Grandmalson, 51 of Maine, was taken to York Hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the first service truck, Gordon Myers, 64 of Lewisberry suffered serious injuries.
None of the vehicles had any passengers.
The driver who had the mattress strapped to it did stop and is cooperating. The crash is still under investigation.
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A fatal crash just before rush hour closed down I-83 Northbound in York near North George Street.
Crews have been working for hours to clean and reopen the interstate.
Hazmat, firefighters and police have been working on reopening I-83 North for hours.
This all after a horrible crash that left at least one person dead.
Fire crews were on their way to a structure fire in the southern part of York County around 4:30 when they came across the fiery crash.
Photos of the crash from twitter show how severe the flames were while fire crews arrived on scene.
“It was a large fire when we arrived, the challenge was there isn’t any fire hydrants on the interstate so we had to get the water supply from George Street,” explained Jay Van Pelt, Battalion Chief for York Area United Fire and Rescue.
Firefighters had to extend fire hoses from the hydrants on North George Street, through the parking lot of the Comfort Inn and Suites, and through a fence to the interstate.
Because the fire was so close to the Comfort Inn and Suites, the Inn had to be evacuated.
“It was in danger of possibly, the fire extending to the motel,” Van Pelt told us.
No one inside the motel was hurt, but State Police say one of the people involved in the accident did lose their life.
“Three vehicles were involved – 2 of them were utility trucks and one of them was a tractor trailer, the tractor trailer was not carrying any cargo,” addressed Van Pelt.
Once the fire was out crews worked to clean up the accident.
“Hazmat was on scene to take care of the diesel leak,” the chief told us. “Lost about 100 gallons of diesel.”
PennDOT diverted traffic from I-83 North to North George Street, causing bumper to bumper conditions for hours.
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The southbound lane of I-83 is now back open.
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According to State Police, one person is dead after a crash on I-83 near the North George Street exit.
The crash involved two vehicles, a tow truck and a tractor trailer. It is unknown if the deceased is in the tractor trailer or the tow truck.
It is also unknown if there are any other injuries or if either vehicle had a passenger.
Both northbound lanes are closed and one left hand lane southbound is closed.
We will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.
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An accident off Interstate 83 has closed I-83 Northbound closed in the area of North George Street.
The crash occurred around 430 p.m. on Thursday afternoon and the coroner has been called to the scene.
The crash is located directly next to the Comfort Inn and Suites in the area. The York City Fire Chief said that the smoke from the crash caused a smoke condition in the hotel, forcing them to evacuate the hotel.
CBS 21 is headed to the scene and will provide more information as it becomes available.