Executive Summary
- A fatal crash occurred on Route 322 near South Mountain Lane at 5:15 p.m. Friday.
- The collision involved an SUV and a tanker truck, resulting in a 500-gallon fuel spill.
- Route 322 is closed between PA 72 and PA 501 with no estimated reopening time due to hazmat cleanup.
CORNWALL, Pa. — A fatal collision involving an SUV and a tanker truck resulted in a significant fuel spill and the closure of Route 322 in Lebanon County on Friday evening, according to state transportation authorities.
Authorities confirmed that emergency crews were dispatched to the scene near South Mountain Lane at approximately 5:15 p.m. A PennDOT official stated that the crash involved a collision between a passenger SUV and a commercial tanker truck.
Following the impact, PennDOT reported that approximately 500 gallons of fuel spilled onto the roadway, escalating the incident to a hazardous materials situation. As a result, Route 322 has been closed to traffic between PA 72 and PA 501.
As of 7:45 p.m., officials indicated there was no estimated timeline for reopening the thoroughfare.
Operational Impact and Safety Advisory
The involvement of a commercial tanker and the subsequent release of hazardous materials introduces significant complexity to the scene clearance operations. Standard safety protocols dictate that environmental remediation must be completed before investigators can fully process the crash site or assess the roadway’s surface for safety. Consequently, motorists in the Cornwall area should anticipate extended disruptions and seek alternate routes while law enforcement and PennDOT crews work to secure the area and determine the cause of the accident.