UNION COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA — Five members of a Pennsylvania family were seriously injured after a tractor-trailer failed to slow for stopped construction traffic on Interstate 80, triggered a seven-vehicle crash, and landed on top of their SUV.
The crash happened around 4:34 p.m. Monday on I-80 westbound near mile marker 202 in White Deer Township, Union County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
The George family, from Delmont, was traveling home from the World Dance Competition in Meadowlands, New Jersey, when the crash happened.
Tractor-Trailer Failed to Stop for Work Zone Traffic
State police said a tractor-trailer driven by Gueye Gornarou of the Bronx, New York, was traveling west when the driver failed to notice vehicles stopped in a construction-related traffic backup.
Investigators said the tractor-trailer first struck a Dodge Ram driven by Drew Miller of Lock Haven and another tractor-trailer driven by Justin Jackson of Malvern, Ohio.
The tractor-trailer then swerved into the left lane and struck a Honda Pilot driven by Lynn George of Delmont. Police said the rig jackknifed and also collided with a Mercedes-Benz driven by Melissa Neville of Hawthorne, New Jersey, and a Toyota Highlander driven by Timmie Oneil of Nineveh, New York.
Trailer Landed on Family’s SUV
The impact pushed the Honda Pilot off the roadway and into the center median, where it rolled over multiple times.
State police said the tractor-trailer’s trailer then landed on top of the SUV.
Inside the Honda were five members of the George family: 50-year-old Jayson George, 44-year-old Lynn George, their 17-year-old son William, 14-year-old daughter Lillian, and 9-year-old son Declan.
Lynn George described the moment before the crash, saying the family had entered a work zone, slowed down, and came to a complete stop in traffic.
“The next thing I know, just boom, boom, boom, boom,” she said.
Family Members Taken to Hospital
State police said Jayson George, the 9-year-old boy, and the 17-year-old boy were flown to Geisinger Medical Center.
Lynn George and the 14-year-old girl were taken by ambulance.
Lynn suffered a brain bleed and has since been released from the hospital, but she remains near her family, traveling between multiple hospital rooms.
Jayson has undergone multiple surgeries and is expected to remain hospitalized for at least two to three weeks.
Lillian suffered multiple fractures and underwent surgery on one of them. Family friends said there is uncertainty over whether she will be able to dance again.
William is intubated with a serious spinal cord injury. Doctors are hoping the swelling is temporary, but the possibility of lasting damage remains unknown.
Declan, 9, is described as facing the most serious battle. He underwent surgery to remove both sides of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. His condition was described as hour by hour.
Family Friend Launches Fundraiser
A family friend created a fundraiser to help with medical bills, travel, lodging, and lost income while the family remains far from home at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
The fundraiser described Lynn as a mental health director focusing on children and juveniles at Wesley Family Services, and Jayson as a pharmacist at Chartwell, UPMC’s specialty pharmacy.
Lillian was described as a competitive dancer with DeStella Dance Centre in Export. William was described as being in the final step of becoming an Eagle Scout, and Declan was described as a kind-hearted boy who loves baseball, soccer, Lionel Messi, Michael Jackson, and Roblox.
The family said Declan was traveling with his favorite soccer ball at the time of the crash, and it was lost in the wreck.
Mother Asks for Prayers
Lynn said her first concern after climbing out of the mangled SUV was for her husband and children.
“At the end of the day, any parent can look at this story and at some point it touches them and you think about what would I do in that situation,” she said.
The crash closed a section of westbound I-80 for about nine hours.
State police said the crash remains under investigation.
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