A 39-year-old motorcyclist died after a collision with a parked tractor-trailer on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension on October 3.
Kory Stokes of Foster Township, Luzerne County, was riding in the northbound lane at 4:25 p.m. near mile marker 63 in North Whitehall Township when the incident occurred, according to Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio.
Authorities said the tractor-trailer was parked with its hazard lights activated. Before the crash, another tractor-trailer shifted from the right lane to the left, leading Stokes to attempt a lane change as well.
Stokes lost control of his motorcycle and collided with the left rear wheel of the parked tractor-trailer. His motorcycle then skidded across both lanes and struck a barrier before stopping in the center of the travel lanes. Although Stokes was wearing a helmet, he sustained severe injuries.
Emergency responders initially planned to airlift him to a hospital, but he was deemed unstable and transported by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where he was pronounced dead approximately one hour later. Buglio confirmed the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries, with the manner classified as accidental.
Following the investigation, authorities determined that no charges would be filed regarding the accident. The road remained closed for approximately three hours while the scene was processed.