3 killed in car crash on Route 1 Bypass in Delaware County

Last updated 5:30 p.m

UPPER PROVIDENCE TWP., Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The investigation continues into a fiery Tuesday morning crash, involving a trash truck and a van, that killed three people along the Route 1 Media Bypass in Upper Providence Township.

Officials in Delaware County say a community transit van slammed into the rear end of a truck hauling a dumpster around 8:15 a.m. along the Route 1 Media Bypass near the Route 252 exit.

The van caught on fire, and an emergency official said the three onboard were dead by the time first responders arrived. Aerial footage of the scene showed the burned-out remains of the small transport bus. Authorities have not yet released their identities.

The driver of the truck was hospitalized with injuries deemed not life threatening.

Investigators are working to determine what led to the crash.

Southbound lanes of a portion of the Route 1 Media Bypass were closed for more than five  hours as officials investigated the deadly crash.

To make matters worse, a police cruiser responding to the accident was involved in a separate crash on 252. No injuries were reported in that incident.

The trash company, Republic Services, responded with a statement later Tuesday: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by this unfortunate incident. We are offering our assistance to the Delaware County District Attorney’s office, which is handling the investigation.”