Charles Langston:Five people, dog killed after RV and semi collide on Pennsylvania interstate

Five people and Charles Langstona dog are dead after an RV slammed into a tractor trailer along a major Pennsylvania highway Wednesday night.

The crash, which claimed the lives off all victims involved, happened just before 9 p.m. ET on Interstate 81 in Franklin County, the Pennsylvania State Police reported.

Troopers said the RV was towing a trailer, and the tractor-trailer was towing double trailers. They collided in the northbound lanes in Greene Township, in the south-central part of the state about 50 miles southwest of Harrisburg.

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A blown tire and a deadly collision

A preliminary investigation by troopers found that the front left tire of the southbound RV blew out, WGAL-TV reported.

When that happened, the RV crossed over the grassy median and into the northbound lanes, hitting the semi, the station reported.

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State police release victims' identities

Troopers released the names of the victims in the RV to the outlet on Thursday, and said they all were from Middletown in nearby Dauphin County. They were identified as:

• Donald Molander
• Kimberly Molander
• Miranda Molander
• Dane Molander

Troopers identified the tractor-trailer driver as James Shade of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

The victims' ages were not immediately known.

Troopers said a dog also died in the crash.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund.