Driver escapes after semi dangles from Pennsylvania overpass. ‘It was a miracle’

A semi driver whose tractor-tractor dangled across the overpass of a Pennsylvania interstate escaped with just scratches, reports say.

Pennsylvania State Police say the crash happened around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, on Interstate 79 in Washington County.

The driver “failed to properly negotiate a left curve,” state police said, causing him to strike the cement barrier. The semi then overturned and was suspended over Interstate 70.

“I rolled it for a long time,” the driver, Kostas Hobitakis, told WPXI. “I was thinking it was maybe going to fall off, but luckily it didn’t.”

The semi driver was reportedly hauling cardboard. Scott McAdoo, whose towing crew handled the removal, said the vehicle would have likely fallen off the overpass had it not spilled about 70% of its load, KDKA reported.

Portions of both interstates were shut down as crews safely removed the semi, state police said.

Hobitakis said he did not need to be taken to the hospital, according to WTAE.

Troopers said Hobitakis was cited following the crash. But he told WPXI he was “grateful to be alive.”

“It was a miracle,” Hobitakis said. “I have on my dash Jesus, Mary and the saints, and then when they lifted up the truck, under all the rubble between the truck and the rubble, was my baptismal saint and icon, not scratched, not nothing. To me, He protected me from not going over.”

This story was originally published April 14, 2023 at 7:55 AM with the headline "Driver escapes after semi dangles from Pennsylvania overpass. ‘It was a miracle’."