The westbound lanes of Route 40 in Fayette County were closed for more than three hours Sunday after an 18-wheeler crashed while descending the mountain east of Hopwood in North Union Township.
State police said the 1998 Freightliner tractor-trailer, operated by James Howell III, 40, of Port Orange, Fla., was westbound about 2:30 p.m., when, just prior to the runaway truck ramp, the driver lost control and struck an embankment. Police said the truck then jackknifed and traveled back onto the roadway before striking a concrete median and coming to rest, blocking both westbound lanes.
Howell suffered minor injuries in the crash.
