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Fatal Multivehicle Crash Subject of Board Meeting

The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a virtual public board meeting Feb. 8 to consider the draft final report on the Jan. 5, 2020, multivehicle crash near Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania.

The crash occurred when a motorcoach carrying 59 passengers ran off the right side of the road, hit the adjacent embankment, and overturned, blocking both westbound lanes and shoulders of Pennsylvania Turnpike. The motorcoach was traveling around a curve at night and in light snow. Within seconds, two trucks towing semitrailers that were following the motorcoach hit it. A westbound car and another truck towing a semitrailer drove off the road to avoid the wreckage but collided slightly. The motorcoach driver, two passengers, and the driver and codriver of the second truck died in the crash. Forty-nine of the motorcoach passengers and the codriver of the first truck were injured.

During the meeting, the NTSB members will vote on investigators' findings and recommendations as well as any changes to the draft report.

In keeping with established federal and local social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while also ensuring the NTSB's compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, the board meeting for this event will be webcast to the public, with the board members and investigative staff meeting virtually. There will be no physical gathering to facilitate the board meeting.

WHAT: A virtual NTSB meeting on the Multivehicle crash investigation.

WHO: NTSB investigative staff and board members.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

HOW: A link to the webcast will be available shortly before the start of the meeting at http://ntsb.windrosemedia.com/.

Interviews will be conducted by request. Journalists wishing to speak to NTSB about the board meeting should send an email to ntsbmediarelations@ntsb.gov.

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