Flooding blamed for fatal Schuylkill Expy. crash; victim ID'd

PHILADELPHIA - November 27, 2013

The crash, along with additional flooding on the highway, had lanes closed for much of Wednesday morning.

It happened shortly before 4:30 a.m. in the area of Montgomery Drive as heavy rains were hitting the area.

Pennsylvania State Police say an Audi, driven by 25-year-old Jessica Rogers of Lafayette Hill, hit a pool of standing water in the westbound lanes and spun out of control, striking the concrete barrier.

A white minivan came to a stop to avoid hitting Rogers' car.

However, police say, a tractor trailer, driven by 57-year-old Gary Lackey of Vineland, New Jersey, was unable to stop and slammed into the minivan, which then hit the car.

One person in that minivan, 47-year-old Handy Gunawan of Philadelphia, was killed. Five other passengers in that minivan survived.

While the crash scene was cleared from the westbound lanes by late Wednesday morning, flooding continued to cause problems in all lanes.

Authorities say the flooding seemed to be caused by clogged storm drains.

Several PennDOT trucks were on the scene blocking the flooded lanes as crews worked to remedy the problem.

By Wednesday evening, all four westbound lanes were getting by while traffic was down to three lanes on the eastbound side.

Officials say one eastbound lane will remain closed overnight.

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