Tyler R. Kolaja dies in fatal Northampton County vehicle crash

Tyler R. Kolaja dies in fatal Northampton County vehicle crash

Fatal Northampton County vehicle crash death of Tyler R. Kolaja

A deadly collision on Interstate 78 in Glendon Borough has claimed the life of 33-year-old Tyler R. Kolaja, a resident of Hamburg, New Jersey. Authorities confirmed that he was the victim in Monday night’s tragic incident involving a tractor-trailer.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the crash occurred around 10:15 p.m. near mile marker 74.3 on the eastbound side of I-78. Kolaja had been pushing a disabled Chevrolet Equinox along the right lane, while a woman from New Jersey remained behind the wheel, steering the vehicle after it had run out of gas.

As the pair attempted to move the car to safety, an oncoming tractor-trailer struck the Chevrolet, as well as another broken-down tractor-trailer positioned on the shoulder. Kolaja was fatally injured in the crash.

The woman steering the Equinox was taken to St. Luke’s Anderson Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the collision. Her current condition has not been disclosed.

Emergency crews shut down I-78 eastbound for several hours to conduct an investigation and clear the wreckage. Traffic was rerouted to Route 33 during the closure, and all lanes were reopened by 4 a.m. Tuesday.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, led by the Pennsylvania State Police Belfast Patrol Unit, in cooperation with the Northampton County Coroner’s Office.