Trucker charged in I-78 crash that killed 3 people

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014
3 killed in crash on I-78 in Berks County
Walter Perez reports from the scene of deadly crash on I-78.

GREENWICH, Pa. (WPVI) -- A truck driver is facing a number of charges following a crash on Interstate 78 back in May that left three people dead.

Vincente Espinvera, 56, of Belleville, New Jersey, was charged following the crash on May 12th in Greenwich Township, Berks County.

The charges include three counts of homicide by vehicle and three counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Espinvera surrendered to police on Wednesday. He was arraigned and released after posting $10,000 bail.

The wreck happened in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 41.5.

Witnesses say the truck's driver was speeding down the highway and tried to pass a line of cars when it slammed into stopped traffic.

Some of the cars involved then burst into flames. Images from Chopper 6 and the Action Cam at the time of the crash showed the burned wreckage scattered across the highway.

Action News reporter Walter Perez was on the scene of a fiery crash on Interstate 78 on Monday afternoon.

Stivos Kibrizlas of Emmaus told Action News back in May that he and the other witnesses tried to help the victims, but the heat was so intense he couldn't even get close.

"I heard a girl - I think it was a girl - she was screaming on the pickup truck. I couldn't do nothing," Kibrizlas said.

"What am I going to do? The flames were going like crazy."

Chopper 6 HD was over the aftermath of a fiery crash on Interstate 78 on Monday afternoon.