BERKS COUNTY –  3 Juveniles Critically Injured & Building Damaged in Route 61 Truck Accident

BERKS COUNTY, PA  (June 27, 2025) ——  A truck and car crash in Perry Township left three juveniles in critical condition and a building damaged on Wednesday, June 25.

The crash occurred on Route 61 (Pottsville Pike) and Zweizig Road just before 6 p.m. Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) responded. 

A car was travelling north when it attempted to make a lefthand turn at the intersection with a green light, but failed to yield. A tractor trailer was travelling south. As the truck approached the intersection it had both a green light and the right of way. 

The car was struck on its right side and traveled off the road, striking a fence. The tractor trailer also went off the road, striking three vehicles parked in a fenced lot. One of the parked vehicles was pushed inside a nearby building, causing significant damage.

Three juveniles in the car were transported to Reading Hospital in critical condition. The tractor-trailer was uninjured.

Police continue to investigate. 

When Big Rigs and Passenger Cars Collide: Your Legal Guide

Truck-car accidents are devastating due to massive weight differences—commercial trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds versus a car’s 3,000-4,000 pounds. Common causes include driver fatigue, distracted driving, mechanical failures, and poor weather conditions affecting stopping distances.

Immediate steps: Move to safety, call 911, accept medical treatment even if injuries seem minor, document everything with photos, collect driver information and witness contacts, and request a police report.

Complex liability: Beyond the driver, trucking companies may face liability for inadequate training or pushing drivers to violate safety regulations. Manufacturers, cargo loaders, and maintenance contractors may also share responsibility.

Federal regulations: Commercial trucking operates under strict rules governing driver qualifications, hours of service, and maintenance. Violations strengthen your case significantly.

Why specialized help matters: Truck cases involve complex federal regulations, multiple insurance policies, and well-funded opposition. Evidence like electronic data from truck “black boxes” must be preserved immediately. Don’t let the trucking industry’s resources overwhelm your right to fair compensation.

Car and Truck Collisions: What to Do After a Wreck

The physics are brutal—trucks can weigh twenty times more than cars, with car occupants absorbing most impact energy. Unique dangers include extensive truck blind spots, 300+ foot stopping distances, and jackknifing risks.

Critical steps: Move to safety, call emergency services, accept medical evaluation, and document thoroughly. Evidence preservation is crucial as truck data may be automatically overwritten.

Multiple parties: Liability extends beyond drivers to trucking companies, manufacturers, cargo loaders, and maintenance contractors. Regulatory violations of federal safety standards provide strong negligence evidence.

Insurance challenges: While trucks carry higher coverage, commercial insurers deploy experienced teams to minimize claims through liability disputes and injury challenges.

Specialized representation is essential due to complex federal regulations and well-funded opposition.

Intersection Dangers: Collision Points & Legal Steps

Intersections create complex scenarios requiring split-second decisions, accounting for disproportionate accident numbers. Common types include T-bone collisions, head-on crashes during left turns, and rear-end accidents from sudden stops.

Contributing factors: Malfunctioning signals, aggressive driving, distracted driving, visibility problems from obstructions or weather, and impaired driving affecting judgment.

Pedestrian/cyclist vulnerability: Extreme dangers exist from drivers making turns without checking crosswalks or running red lights into legal crossings.

Legal complexity: Fault determination requires analyzing traffic laws and right-of-way rules. Many cases involve shared fault among multiple parties.

Evidence: Traffic cameras, surveillance footage, witness testimony, and physical evidence provide crucial information, but disappear quickly.

Immediate response: Move to safety, call emergency services, document thoroughly, avoid admitting fault. Intersection crashes often cause hidden injuries from high-impact side collisions requiring experienced legal representation for full compensation.

If you were involved in an accident near Berks County, the Reading accident attorneys at Munley Law can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Note: Our team of writers uses secondary sources to produce this post, including local and state media and news sources, regional and state police incident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents in Pennsylvania. For that reason, if you find any information that is not correct, be sure to contact Munley Law as soon as possible so that we can update the post with the most exact information available. A post will be removed upon request. All information in this post is informational and not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.

Disclaimer: The photos used in this post were not taken at this accident scene. All information in this post is informational and is not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.