Interstate 95 in northeast Philadelphia has been shut down in both directions after a commercial truck burning beneath an overpass caused a portion of the roadway to collapse, officials say.
“With regards to the complete rebuild of the I-95 roadway, we expect that to take some number of months,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) said in a press conference late Sunday afternoon.
“Interstate 95 is a critical artery that supports our economy and plays an important role in Pennsylvanians’ day-to-day lives. My administration is all hands on deck to repair this safely and as efficiently as possible,” Gov. Shapiro also said.
Officials are still working to identify “an individual or individuals” who may have been caught in the fire and the collapse.
The tanker truck driver is Nathaniel Moody, family members and other sources confirmed to WPVI. Moody was an experienced driver who worked for a trucking company from Pennsauken.
Human remains were discovered in the wreckage Monday, but the the identity of the remains is unknown, the outlet also reported.
Shapiro, having seen the site both from aerial and ground-level perspectives, described the collapse as “remarkable devastation.”
“I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died.”
Shapiro shared overhead photos of the active scene showing cleanup and recovery efforts under way.
A commercial truck carrying a “petroleum-based product” was the source of the fire that caused the northbound side of the interstate to collapse and the southbound side to buckle and become structurally unsound, Shapiro said.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney urged travelers to plan alternate routes and thanked state and federal partners who offered support.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg tweeted that he was in contact with Gov. Shapiro, Mayor Kenney, and other regional leaders regarding the collapse.
“I’ve spoken directly to @SecretaryPete, @SenBobCasey, @RepBrendanBoyle and other federal officials. All of our federal partners, including the @WhiteHouse, have pledged complete and total support and assistance as we create alternative routes,” Gov. Shapiro tweeted Sunday evening.
Governor Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency Monday to allow the commonwealth to access federal funds and expedite repair work. The proclamation makes $7 in state funds immediately available to begin the reconstruction, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!