I-81 reopens after crash caused standstill traffic in Franklin County
I’LL LET YOU KNOW IF WE SEE ANY MORE COLD STARTS THIS WEEK. WGAL NEWS 8. TODAY STARTS NOW. GOOD MORNING. IT IS 6:00 ON THIS TUESDAY ON MATT BARCARO. I’M KATELYN SMITH AND HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE FOLLOWING ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THIS MORNING. NEWS 8. GABRIEL THOMAS IS JOINING US LIVE IN YORK COUNTY WITH A FUNDRAISER THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT A DINER FOR A FAMILY WHO LOST EVERYTHING IN A FIRE. NEWS EIGHT’S TAYLOR HAAS IS LIVE IN YORK AT WELLSPAN PARK, PREVIEWING TONIGHT’S WAR OF THE ROSES AND THE SEASON OPENER FOR THE YORK REVOLUTION AND LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS. WE’RE ALSO TAKING A LIVE LOOK FROM DAUPHIN COUNTY THIS MORNING. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK IN HERSHEY AS IT IS A COLD START TO THE MORNING. A FROST AND FREEZE ALERT IN EFFECT. CHRISTINE FREEZE WARNING, FREEZE WARNING. THAT’S THE THAT’S MORE SEVERE. ONE. THE COLDER ONE. RIGHT. A HARD FREEZE THIS MORNING. WE ARE IN THE 20S IN SOME SPOTS. AND THIS GOES FOR ALL COUNTIES IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. SO HOPE YOU BROUGHT IN THE SENSITIVE PLANS VEGETATION. I KNOW A LOT OF FRUIT FARMERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR TREES. SO TODAY IT SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE OF THE SEASON. AT LEAST THE LAST ONE IN THE TEN DAY. IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR OUT THERE. WE HAVE HIGH PRESSURE PARKED RIGHT OVERHEAD. LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. 28 IN CARLISLE, 31 IN HARRISBURG, 29 IN LANCASTER. IT’S 28 IN LEBANON AND 25 DEGREES IN YORK. SO HERE’S THE 12 HOUR FORECAST. TEMPERATURES DO WARM QUICKLY FROM THE 30S INTO THE 40S TO NEAR 50 DEGREES AT LUNCHTIME, AND THEN IN THE UPPER 50S LATER TODAY. EVENTUALLY, CLOUDS WILL INCREASE THIS EVENING AND WE GET SOME RAIN BACK IN HERE TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THOSE SHOWERS COMING UP. I’M GETTING A CHILL JUST LOOKING AT THOSE CURRENT TIMES. MY GOODNESS, YOU WOULDN’T EXPECT TO SEE THAT IN APRIL. IT’S ABOUT 20 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE IN SOME SPOTS. AND IF YOU’RE AT HOME BUNDLED UP IN A BLANKET, I’M JEALOUS. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, CHRISTINE. IT’S 602 ON THE CLOCK ON YOUR TUESDAY MORNING. AND HOPEFULLY YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD ONE AND AND READY FOR THE DAY AHEAD. RIGHT NOW. GOOD NEWS IS I’M NOT SEEING ANY CRASHES ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE THAT CONSTRUCTION HAS CLEARED IN RAPHO TOWNSHIP ROUTE 283 EASTBOUND THERE BETWEEN ASPEN ROAD AND SPOOKY. SO IF YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT, THAT IS GOOD NEWS THERE. MEANTIME, HERSHEY AND HUMMELSTOWN, DAUPHIN COUNTY LOOKING GREAT ON ROUTE 322. A NICE LOOKING DRIVE THERE WITH THE SUNRISE AND SOME DRIVE TIMES. IF YOU’RE HEADED TO CARLISLE FROM HARRISBURG, 21 MINUTE DRIVE THERE ON 81 SOUTHBOUND. IF YOU’RE HEADED TO LANCASTER, 31 MINUTE DRIVE AS WELL, WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE IN A FEW MINUTES. THIS HAS BEEN A LANCASTER TOYOTA TRAFFIC REPORT. IN WARRINGTON TOWNSHIP IN YORK COUNTY IS GETTING SOME HELP RIGHT NOW AFTER LOSING EVERYTHING IN A HOUSE FIRE, GETTING HELP FROM A NEIGHBOR AND THAT NEIGHBOR HAPPENS TO BE A DINER. NEWS 8 GABRIEL THOMAS IS LIVE WITH THE FAMILY. WHO’S THERE RIGHT NOW WITH YOU? GABRIELLE. GOOD MORNING, MATT AND CAITLIN. THE FAMILY DID STOP BY THIS MORNING, BUT I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT LITERALLY STOPPED BY THIS MORNING AT 5:00. AS SOON AS THE RAY OF SUNSHINE DINER OPENED TO GIVE BACK TO THIS FAMILY IN NEED. YOU KNOW, THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY TIGHT KNIT, AND WHENEVER SOMEONE NEEDS HELP, THEY’RE READY TO STEP IN. NOW, I HAVE JILL BOWEN JOINING ME THIS MORNING. SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE IMPACTED BY THAT FIRE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO HAVE PEOPLE STEP UP DURING A TIME OF NEED? OH MY GOSH, IT’S IT’S OVERWHELMING. IT’S IT’S VERY HEARTWARMING. WE’RE VERY THANKFUL AND BLESSED. WE’VE BEEN LIVING ON LOVE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. IS THERE A MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND OR GIVE OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE TODAY TO PURCHASE A MEAL AND TO SUPPORT YOU ALL DURING THIS TIME? JUST THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE’RE SO BLESSED. THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY, IT’S IT’S JUST BEEN OVERWHELMING AND IN A GOOD WAY, IN A VERY GOOD WAY. AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW? WHAT DO THINGS LOOK LIKE AT THIS MOMENT? WE’RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE FAMILY IN THE AREA, BUT WE PLAN TO REBUILD. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS JOINING US THIS MORNING. I’M SURE WITH ALL THIS OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND HELP THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE BACK ON YOUR FEET SOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO THEM RIGHT NOW DURING THIS TIME, THEY WILL HAVE THE FUNDRAISER HERE AT A RAY OF SUNSHINE UNTIL 8:00 TONIGHT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COME IN AND PURCHASE A MEAL. A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BE GOING DIRECTLY TO JILL AND HER HUSBAND. THEY ALSO LOST TWO DOGS IN THAT FIRE AS WELL. REPORTING LIVE HERE IN WARRINGTON TOWNSHIP. I’M GABRIELLE THOMAS WGAL NEWS 8. IT’S GREAT TO HEAR FROM THEM. YEAH, A GOOD EXCUSE TO GO GET A MEAL AND HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR. ALL RIGHT. GABRIELLE, THANK YOU. EARNING MORE FROM POLICE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE A WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN HER HOME IN LEBANON COUNTY LAST WEEK. CHARGING DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT CHARLENE MCCULLOUGH’S HUSBAND, MICHAEL, TOLD OFFICERS THAT HE WOKE UP ONE DAY AND FOUND HER DEAD, THEN LIVED IN THE HOME FOR WEEKS WITH THE BODY. DETECTIVES SAY THAT HE WAS CHARGED WITH ABUSE OF CORPSE AFTER HE ADMITTED THAT HE MOVED HER BODY. MEDICAL RECORDS SHOW THAT CHARLENE WAS HOSPITALIZED AT A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS LAST YEAR. DETECTIVES SPOKE TO HER FAMILY, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY REQUESTED WELFARE CHECKS AT THE HOUSE IN THE PAST, ONE AS RECENTLY AS FEBRUARY, BECAUSE SHE ALSO STRUGGLED WITH HER MENTAL HEALTH. IT’S STILL NOT CLEAR HOW SHE DIED. STATE POLICE SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING A HOMICIDE AT THE YORK COUNTY PRISON. TROOPERS SAY 19 YEAR OLD JACOB BRADY DIED LAST TUESDAY OF BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA AND STRANGULATION. STATE POLICE HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED ANY CHARGES. IN A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH NEWS 8, WE SAT DOWN WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER, SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT THOSE POTENTIAL FURLOUGHS IN THE DISTRICT. THE DISTRICT IS WORKING TO CORRECT THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT WE’VE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT BECAUSE OF OVERSPENDING AND AN ACCOUNTING ERROR, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE ENROLLMENT IS PROJECTED TO DROP ANOTHER THOUSAND OR SO STUDENTS OVER THE NEXT DECADE. AND HE SAYS SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. WE HAVE TO BE THINKING IN ADVANCE ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE A MORE SMOOTH LANDING, AND WE DON’T GET BACK TO A PLACE LIKE WE ARE NOW, WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS THAT DIG DEEP, LIKE FURLOUGHING. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THAT IT’S LOOKING NOW FOR A NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, NEW CFO, AND IT’S CREATING A NEW POSITION. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. THE CURRENT CFO WILL BE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT ROLE, AND THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE WILL BE RETIRING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. DOCTOR MILES SAYS THAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY, STRONGER INTERNAL CHECKS, AND MORE TRANSPARENCY. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SAYS HE IS RESIGNING, AS THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IS NOW LOOKING INTO HOW THE COMMISSION WAS SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS. CHAD DION LASSITER SAYS HIS LAST DAY WITH THE AGENCY THAT ENFORCES CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS WILL BE JUNE 30TH. HE HAS SERVED IN THAT ROLE SINCE 2018. HE DID NOT SAY WHY HE IS STEPPING DOWN, BUT REFERENCED A MEETING WITH OFFICIALS IN THE SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION, SAYING THEY ASKED HIM TO RESIGN. LASSITER’S RESIGNATION COMES AFTER TWO COMMISSIONERS IN THAT AGENCY ALSO RESIGNED THIS MONTH. PENNSYLVANIA’S COMMONWEALTH COURT STRUCK DOWN A BAN ON MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR ABORTIONS. IT WAS A 4 TO 3 RULING. IT SAID THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSTITUTION INCLUDES A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY, AND THAT A BAN ON PUBLIC FUNDING FOR ABORTION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. GOVERNOR SHAPIRO SAYS THAT HE’S LONG BEEN OPPOSED TO THIS BAN BECAUSE HE SAYS ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE SHOULD NOT BE DETERMINED BY A WOMAN’S INCOME. CURRENT STATE TREASURER AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, STACY GARRITY, CALLED THE DECISION MISGUIDED AND IMMORAL. A MORTGAGE LENDER IS MOVING TO FORECLOSE THE MIDTOWN ARTS CENTER IN HARRISBURG AND HAS ASKED FOR A SHERIFF’S SALE OF THE PROPERTY. WE CAN GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THAT BUILDING THIS MORNING, COURT DOCUMENTS SAY H. MAX OWNERSHIP GROUP DEFAULTED ON THE TERMS OF THE LOAN IN OCTOBER OF 2019, WITH THE LAST PAYMENT MADE IN OCTOBER OF 2021. THE LENDER SAYS IT IS OWED NEARLY $8 MILLION. THE VENUE DID CLOSE EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER THE CITY SAID IT FAILED TO PAY ENTERTAINMENT TAXES, LEAVING THAT BUSINESS UNABLE TO GET PERMITS TO OPERATE. 607 RIGHT NOW, IN A BIG DAY FOR BASEBALL, THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY TWO OF OUR TEAMS GOING HEAD TO HEAD TO START THEIR SEASONS. LET’S GO OUT TO NEWS EIGHT’S TAYLOR HAAS, WHO IS JOINING US FROM WELLSPAN PARK WITH THE WAR OF THE ROSES. GOOD MORNING. TAYLOR. GOOD MORNING MATT AND CAITLIN. WELL THE YORK REDS WILL TAKE ON THE STORMERS HERE TONIGHT. THE GAME KICKING OFF AT 630. GATES OPENING AT 530. NOW IT’S TAKEN A LOT OF WORK IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET HERE TODAY AND GET PREPARED FOR THE GAME. SO I’M HERE JOINED BY WITH CHRIS CARVAJAL, WHO’S THE DIRECTOR OF GROUNDS. SO TELL ME, NOT ONLY DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THE FIELD, BUT YOU DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS AROUND THE STADIUM TO GET READY. WHAT ALL HAVE YOU DONE? WELL, WE HAVE WITH OUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN TOGETHER. TYPICALLY, WE’RE CLEANING A LOT OF THIS AREA, THE LAWN AREA, WE’RE PREPPING THE THE ROSES OUT BEYOND RIGHT FIELD THERE. OUR PARKING LOTS, EVERYTHING. IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO GET EVERYTHING ALL TOGETHER FOR THIS EVENT. A LOT OF HARD WORK EVERY DAY LEADING UP TO THIS, BUT ALSO HARD WORK HERE TODAY. SO WHAT IS YOUR DAY LOOK LIKE AND WHEN DOES IT START? WELL, HOPEFULLY IT WILL START HERE SOON. AS SOON AS THIS FROST BURNS OFF, WE’LL BE OUT THERE GETTING OUR MOWING PATTERN IN, LOOKING TO REFRESH THE MOUNDS HOME PLATE. AS SOON AS THAT ENDS, THE PLAYERS WILL BE GETTING OUT TO DO THEIR BATTING PRACTICE, SO WE’LL HAVE TO DO THE SETUP FOR THAT. LET THE VISITING TEAM LANCASTER COME IN, DO THEIR BATTING PRACTICE AND THEN SWITCH OVER TO GAME TIME AND HOPEFULLY GET THIS THING ALL READY FOR TODAY. SO IT’S A IT’S A NICE LONG DAY, BUT WE ARE ALMOST THERE. WE’RE COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS. THANK YOU. CHRIS IN YORK COUNTY TAYLOR HAS WGAL NEWS 8. I GUESS IT’S BETTER TO HAVE THE FROST HOURS BEFORE THE GAME THAN DURING THE GAME, RIGHT? YES, 60 I THINK DURING THE GAME, ACCORDING TO CHRISTINE, SHE’S BEEN FILLING US IN ON. SO YOU KNOW A JACKET. BUT YOU SHOULD BE OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, TAYLOR. AND OUR OPENING COVERAGE, OUR COVERAGE OF OPENING DAY CONTINUES TONIGHT. JERE GISH SPORTS DIRECTOR BETHANY MILLER, METEOROLOGIST RYAN ARGENTI. THEY’LL ALL BE LIVE AT WELLSPAN PARK STARTING AT 4:00 THIS AFTERNOON. THEN ON FRIDAY, IT’S THE LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS TURN TO HAVE THEIR HOME OPENER AT PENN MEDICINE PARK. THAT GAME IS AT 645. NEWS 8 WILL BE THERE LIVE AS WELL AND SOMETHING NEW IS COMING TO FNB FIELD TONIGHT. THE HARRISBURG SENATORS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UCP CENTRAL PA, WILL UNVEIL A SENSORY SENSORY FRIENDLY ROOM. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT ROOM IN THIS VIDEO. IT PROVIDES A QUIET SPACE FOR FANS WHO DO NEED IT, SO THEY CAN TAKE A BREAK FROM ALL THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE BALLPARK. TONIGHT’S GAME IS ALSO A SENSORY FRIENDLY GAME. THAT MEANS GAME DAY CONDITIONS WILL BE ADJUSTED A BIT. THE MUS
I-81 reopens after crash caused standstill traffic in Franklin County
Updated: 9:42 AM EDT Apr 21, 2026
A crash shut down a stretch of Interstate 81 in Franklin County on Tuesday, according to PennDOT. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today. The wreck happened in the northbound lanes in Guilford Township at 7:36 a.m. All lanes of Interstate 81 northbound were closed between Exit 10, Marion/Route 914, and Exit 14, Wayne Avenue/Route 316. The interstate has since reopened. It’s unclear if anyone was injured. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating. WGAL is working to learn more. Stay with us for updates. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
GUILFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A crash shut down a stretch of Interstate 81 in Franklin County on Tuesday, according to PennDOT.
Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.
The wreck happened in the northbound lanes in Guilford Township at 7:36 a.m.
All lanes of Interstate 81 northbound were closed between Exit 10, Marion/Route 914, and Exit 14, Wayne Avenue/Route 316.
The interstate has since reopened.
PennDOT
Traffic at a standstill on I-81 northbound
It’s unclear if anyone was injured.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.
WGAL is working to learn more. Stay with us for updates.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.