2016 inspection found corrosion in conduit system that fell, killed trucker

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report that sheds some light on what happened, when a 70-year-old trucker died after electrical conduit smashed through his windshield in the Lehigh Tunnel in Pennsylvania.

At approximately 6 p.m. on Feb. 21, the truck driver entered the Lehigh Tunnel on southbound Interstate 476 in East Penn Township, Carbon County, Pa. About 1,000 feet into the tunnel, the driver struck a 10-foot long section of electrical conduit that had broken away from the ceiling, according to the report. The conduit crashed through the windshield and struck the driver. The truck continued driving before resting on the right shoulder outside the tunnel. The driver was killed. No other injuries were reported.

NTSB’s investigation reveals the tunnel had 10 sets of axial fans at the high point of the tunnel arch, allowing fresh air to flow through the tunnel. Along with the fans, supports for the electrical conduit system that supplied power were also situated at the apex of the tunnel arch. These systems were located above the travel lanes approximately 16 feet and 6 inches from the roadway.

According to the NTSB preliminary report, the fans and electrical conduit were inspected in 2016. At the time, inspectors found evidence of corrosion on steel supports straps. The reports states it was this support system that failed on Feb. 21, leading to a section of electrical conduit to fall low enough for the truck to strike.

Before the crash, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was in the process of awarding a contract to replace the lighting and electrical system in the tunnel, the report states. The estimated completion date was slated for October.

The National Transportation Safety Board is working with the Federal Highway Administration, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania State Police as the agencies continue to collect and analyze data. A full report will determine probable cause and potential safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes.