Victims identified as marines in I-81 crash Tuesday morning

[thedrifter]

Victims identified as marines in I-81 crash Tuesday morning


By staff reports, January 21, 2009

Last updated: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 8:00 AM EST
Police have identified the victims of Tuesday morning’s double fatal auto crash on Interstate 81 in Franklin County as U.S. Marines on leave from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

State police at Chambersburg say Justin F. Clayton, 18, of Milton; and Caleb A. Rushing, 19, of Denham Springs City, La.; died in the 6:40 a.m. crash.

A third Marine, Timothy J. Miller. Jr., 19, of Hughesville, Pa.; was at the wheel of the southbound 1994 Toyota SUV when it veered across the median of the highway and into the northbound lanes, where police say it was struck by four tractor-trailer rigs.

Miller was flown to York Hospital. His condition was unknown at this time.

Clayton and Rushing were pronounced dead at the scene by Franklin County Chief Deputy Coroner Paul T. Reed at 7:30 a.m.

Corner Jeffrey Conner cited blunt force trauma to the head and neck as the cause of death in both cases.

Police say, the Marines’ vehicle was traveling south near mile marker 19 in Greene Township when it crossed the median, turned onto its side and was struck by the northbound semi rigs. Why the vehicle went out of control has not been explained, but icy road conditions along that stretch of the Interstate have contributed to several crashes in recent days, according to police.

A passenger bus carrying 36 passengers also became involved in the crash, police said. The passengers on the bus were taken to Scotland Community Center for standby, police said, noting that no passengers were injured during the crash. Police said one additional passenger car was also involved in the accident, but there were no reports of injuries.

The crash closed both northbound lanes and one southbound lane of traffic. Northbound traffic was detoured off the interstate onto Route 30 at exit 16, according to police. The closed southbound lane created a bottleneck for travelers between mile markers 19 and 20.

The detours caused lengthy traffic back-ups in Shippensburg and Greene Township.

Both lanes were reported open by state police by 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Driver in fatal crash on Interstate 81 listed in serious condition
By KEITH PARADISE Staff writer

The driver of a vehicle that was involved in a multivehicle accident that killed two people Tuesday morning on Interstate 81 remained in serious condition as of 10 p.m. Wednesday at York Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Timothy J. Miller, 19, Hughesville, was driving a Toyota 4-Runner south near the Scotland exit on the interstate at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday when the vehicle crossed into the northbound lanes for unknown reasons. It was struck by four tractor-trailers.

Justin Foster Clayton, 18, of Milton and Caleb Aaron Rushing, 19, of Denham Springs, La., were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Franklin County Chief Deputy Coroner Paul T. Reed.

Miller was flown to York Hospital.

The three men were Marines on leave who were returning to the Marine Corps Base in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Juan Vara, public information officer for the base, said that Rushing was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine regiment, 2nd Division and Clayton was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Both men were infantrymen who joined the Marines in July. Vara said Rushing joined his unit on Dec. 13 and Clayton joined his on Dec. 20.

Rushing was given the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Clayton received the National Defense Service Medal.

Four tractor-trailers, a tour bus and two cars were involved in the crash, Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg, said. A school bus was
called to the scene to take people on the tour bus to the Scotland Community Center. None of the 36 passengers on the bus was injured, according to police.

Police closed the northbound lanes and one southbound lane between Walker Road (Exit 17) and Scotland (Exit 20) for about seven hours. Northbound traffic was diverted onto U.S. 30 at Exit 16 in Chambersburg. Traffic in both directions was reopened to motorists around 2 p.m.

Ellie