On Thursday, January 15, 2026, a tragic chain-reaction crash amid dangerous winter weather claimed the life of a 22-year-old man on Interstate 79 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The accident occurred shortly before noon, at approximately 11:45 a.m., in the southbound lanes at mile marker 122 in Jackson Township.
The crash unfolded during a period of severe winter weather, characterized by heavy snowfall and sudden whiteout conditions, creating treacherous driving environments across the region, forcing vehicles to slow dramatically or halt entirely near mile marker 122
According to the Pennsylvania State Police investigation, the collision involved three commercial tractor-trailers. A leading truck had come to a stop in the right-hand lane due to traffic conditions ahead when a second tractor-trailer, traveling behind it, was unable to stop in time and collided with the rear of the first vehicle. This second semi then came to a rest in the left lane of the interstate.
A third tractor-trailer, driven by 22-year-old Austin Golab of Erie, Pennsylvania, subsequently approached the scene of the initial collision. Amid the low-visibility conditions, Golab’s truck then collided with the back of the second semi-truck, which was now stationary in the left lane. The impact caused major damage to the front end and driver’s side of Golab’s vehicle.
The Mercer County Coroner, John Libonati, was called to the scene and pronounced Austin Golab dead at 12:30 p.m.. An examination determined his cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the head and chest sustained in the crash, and his death was officially ruled accidental. A passenger in the second truck involved in the crash was transported to a local hospital with injuries of an unknown severity.
The multi-vehicle crash had a significant impact on regional travel, forcing the closure of I-79 in both directions between the Interstate 80 interchange and Exit 130 for approximately four hours as emergency crews worked at the scene and authorities conducted their initial investigation. The Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate the precise circumstances and contributing factors that led to the fatal pileup.