Woman killed by falling debris on I-95 a day after overpass collapse
A woman was killed after a large piece of metal pierced her windshield and hit her on I-95, just 10 miles south of where an overpass on the busy highway collapsed the previous day in Philadelphia, police said.
Caramia Panichelli, 33, of Philly, was driving on I-95 Monday evening following the fatal tanker truck collision that took out a northbound overpass when her 2014 Suburau was hit by debris, Pennsylvania State police said.
Officials have yet to determine where the metal debris that struck and killed Panichelli came from. Police did not specifically indicate that her death was related to the collapse.
The City of Brotherly Love is still reeling from the calamity that struck on Sunday morning when a tanker carrying 8,500 gallons of gas flipped on a northbound off-ramp curve near the Cottman Avenue exit.
The truck erupted in a blaze that took out the overpass, with the fire also creating structural damage on the southbound lanes, leading officials to demolish the roads earlier this week.
The remains of 53-year-old driver Nathaniel Moody were later pulled from the cab of the truck during the recovery effort. Moody, who worked for a trucking company based in Pennsauken, NJ, is an experienced trucker, kin said.
The National Transportation Safety Board was still investigating the crash.
Everything you need to know about the Philadelphia I-95 overpass collapse
A heavily traveled section of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia on Sunday after a tanker truck burst into flames underneath it, police said.
The collapse occurred after a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gas to a local Wawa failed to make a turn and flipped on its side, triggering a massive fire, officials said Monday.
The highway catastrophe led to all lanes of the interstate being shut down between the exits of Woodhaven Road in northeast Philadelphia and Aramingo Avenue in the Port Richmond neighborhood.
Philadelphia Fire Department Captain Derrick Bowmer said the burning truck also led to explosions underground, with flames coming out of manholes that were blown off.
Human remains were recovered from the rubble on Monday, and officials have yet to announce the identity of the victim.
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On Wednesday, state officials said a livestream will allow drivers to check in on the highway’s reconstruction progress in real-time as the loss of that section of I-95, which typically saw 160,000 vehicles a day, has left drivers to contend with nightmarish traffic.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has issued a disaster declaration over the collapse in order to speed up the construction and funding needed to restore the road to normal.
Construction crews plan to work “around the clock” to demolish, refill and repave the heavily traveled strip of roadway, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said.
The governor, however, still gave no timeline for when the massive project will be completed.
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