A 36-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged with causing a five-vehicle crash in Monroe County that resulted in three deaths.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Paul Nye of the Pennsylvania State Police Stroudsburg barracks in the case against Mark Rideout Jr.:

At 10:38 a.m. March 1, 2023, Nye responded to Route 33 south near mile marker 20.6, Hamilton Township, to investigate the crash.

When Nye arrived, multiple EMS agencies and fire departments were already on the scene.

Vehicles involved were a black 2016 Freightliner Cascadia with attached full trailer, driven by Rideout; a red 1992 Kenworth W900 with attached full trailer; a black 2021 KIA; a black 2019 GMC Sierra; and a red 2014 Chevrolet Cruze.

According to the reconstruction, the crash occurred as the Freightline Cascadia was traveling in the left southbound lane of Route 33 as the roadway curved left.

The Kenworth was traveling north on Route 33 and navigating a right-hand curve in the roadway.

The Kia, GMC and Cruze were all traveling north.

Police said the Freightliner driven by Rideout traveled through the southbound lanes, through the right southbound shoulder and into the right grassy berm, where it struck an embankment and a traffic sign before it reentered the roadway and into the median, where it struck the pylon-style guide rail that divided the lanes.

The guide rail separated from the ground, and Rideout crossed to the other side, hitting the rear trailer area of Kenworth, causing the axle to separate from its trailer.

Rideout, while still pushing a section of the guide rail, hit the GMC. The Cruze hit the pylon and the Freightliner.

Rideout was extracted from the vehicle. The driver of the Kenworth was able to get out on his own. The driver and passenger of the Kia and the driver of the Cruze died as a result of injuries.

Police said Rideout denied use of alcohol or drugs but appeared confused and at times was not able to maintain his balance. On several occasions, he leaned on troopers at the scene to steady and support himself, and asked Nye not to let him fall.

Rideout failed field sobriety tests and was taken into custody for DUI.

He was transported to the Monroe County Correctional Facility, where toxicology tests were performed. The NMS Labs Toxicology Report indicated that the presence of inactive metabolite and an active ingredient of marijuana were found in his blood.

Police said the crash reconstruction indicates Rideout was traveling between 70.5 and 79 mph just before the collision occurred. The area is posted 55 mph.

Rideout’s truck registered a hard brake, which rapidly decreased to zero mph at the time of the collision.

Rideout faces charges on five counts of reckless endangerment; three counts each of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, driving under influence of alcohol/controlled substance, and careless driving — unintentional death; and one count each of reckless driving, careless driving, driving at safe speed, and disregard traffic lane.

Rideout is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge Paul J. Gasper of Stroudsburg.

The hearing has been moved to the Monroe County Courthouse.