(TNS)

Feb. 15--MAHANOY CITY -- A tractor-trailer crash early Saturday morning shut down both northbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township.

State police Trooper Michael Van Buskirk of the Frackville station said the crash occurred about 12:45 a.m. in the area of mile marker 130.4.

The trooper said Gradaille Yaniel, 31, of Miami, Florida, was driving a 2002 Freightliner tractor-trailer north when he lost control on a patch of ice.

The truck overturned and came to a stop on its passenger's side, blocking both northbound lanes of travel.

Northbound traffic was brought to a standstill for more than two hours.

Van Buskirk said Yaniel, who was wearing his seat belt, was not hurt, but was evaluated at the scene by Mahanoy City EMS.

Firefighters and fire police from Mahanoy City assisted at the scene, while firefighters from Altamont assisted with slowing traffic down south of the crash site.

A tow company used two heavy duty wreckers and battled frigid temperatures to get the tractor and trailer back onto its wheels and tow it off the interstate.

Northbound traffic was re-opened about 3:30 a.m.

Van Buskirk said Yaniel will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash. The citation will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

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