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6-vehicle crash on I-81 leaves 2 dead, police say

Investigators say a Chevrolet Tahoe hit the back of a tractor-trailer that began to brake due to traffic, which caused a chain reaction.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Two people are dead and three others are injured following a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Hagerstown. Maryland State Police say four tractor-trailers and two cars were involved in the crash Friday morning. 

Troopers were called to the scene on Southbound I-81 at Showalter Road in Washington County for a report of a crash around 9:30 a.m. All southbound lanes were shut down as a result of the crash. 

Investigators say a Chevrolet Tahoe hit the back of a tractor-trailer that began to brake due to traffic, which caused a chain reaction causing 3 additional tractor-trailers and a pick-up truck to collide with each other. 

Several hours after the crash, Maryland State Police identified the two people killed in the crash as Wesley Merrick, 55, and Alicia Eve Cornell, 46, both of Wellsville, New York. Merrick was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe that Cornell was riding in. 

A third person from New York and a tractor-trailer driver was also injured in the crash and taken to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown.

Sky9 was over the crash scene Friday morning. 

It is not known how long lanes in the area will be closed as the investigation continues. Check our interactive traffic map for the latest road conditions in our area.

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