Londonderry Township, PA – Car Crashes Into Livestock Trailer on Route 283 (September 22, 2026)

A car crashed into the rear of a livestock trailer late Tuesday night on Route 283 in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, according to the Londonderry Fire Company. The collision occurred in the westbound lanes of the highway near the Schoolhouse Road overpass at approximately 10:30 p.m. on September 22, 2026.

The trailer, which was carrying 125 calves at the time, was being towed by a pickup truck when it was struck from behind by a passenger car. Following the impact, the car caught fire and quickly became fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze before it could spread further. The pickup truck and trailer combination came to a stop several tenths of a mile beyond the point of the collision after the driver became aware of the crash behind them.

One occupant of the car was transported by ambulance to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. The extent of the injuries sustained in the crash had not been made public as of this report. Emergency responders on scene said one calf aboard the trailer was killed as a result of the collision. The surviving animals were transferred to a second livestock trailer that was brought to the scene so that the westbound lane closure could be lifted more quickly.

The westbound lanes of Route 283 were temporarily shut down in the vicinity of the Schoolhouse Road overpass while fire crews and other emergency personnel worked to clear the wreckage, extinguish the vehicle fire, and manage the livestock left on scene. The roadway has since reopened to normal traffic flow.

The crash remains under investigation. A full report on the collision is expected to be available from Pennsylvania State Police once the investigation is complete. Anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police barracks serving Londonderry Township.