HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Three people are dead after a five-car crash shut down State Route 33 earlier on Wednesday, officials announced the road is reopened.

The Monroe County coroner was at the scene of a crash involving 5 vehicles that previously shut down State Route 33.

Pennsylvania State Police in Stroudsburg says troopers were called to a multiple-vehicle crash that occurred Wednesday around 10:37 a.m. on SR 33, near MM 20.6 in Hamilton Township, Monroe County, which caused both lanes of traffic to shut down while crews worked on the scene.

According to PSP Public Information Officer (PIO) Anthony Petroski, the collision involved five vehicles in total; two tractor-trailers and three passenger vehicles, with multiple serious injuries, reported.   

Trooper Petroski says a tractor-trailer going southbound on SR 33 crossed over the median, through the guide rail, and into northbound traffic, causing the crash.

Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac says the passenger of one of the vehicles involved was pronounced dead on the scene, their name won’t be released, due to them being a minor.

Yanac says another driver involved, 25-year-old Bryan Franco, of Hellertown, Northampton County, was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.

The manner of these deaths won’t be released until PSP finishes its investigation, Yanac says.

According to Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio, one of the drivers has been identified as 40-year-old, Samantha Crich, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County. Crich was pronounced dead on Wednesday, March 1 at 10:14 p.m., at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.

Buglio says after an autopsy was completed on Thursday, March 2, the cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force injuries from the collision, and the manner of death was ruled an accident.

According to Trooper Petroski, more information will be released when the investigation is concluded.

This is a developing story and Eyewitness News will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available.