West Hanover Township, PA – Fiery Fatal Crash on South Hershey Road (September 27, 2026)

A fiery multi-vehicle crash in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, left one person dead on the evening of Sunday, September 27, 2026. The crash was reported to county dispatch shortly before 5 p.m. at the intersection of South Hershey Road, also known as Route 39, and Devonshire Heights Road, in the Hanoverdale section of the township.

According to a PennDOT spokesperson, multiple vehicles were involved in the collision, and at least some of those vehicles caught fire in the aftermath. Local fire companies and emergency medical crews responded to the scene to extinguish the flames and treat anyone in need of care. A PennDOT spokesperson later confirmed that one death was reported in connection with the crash. It was not immediately known whether any other occupants of the involved vehicles suffered injuries.

South Hershey Road was closed to traffic in both directions for an extended period while crews worked to clear the wreckage and Pennsylvania State Police investigators conducted a crash reconstruction at the scene. The closure stretched between nearby side roads in the area, and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes while the investigation continued into the evening. As of the most recent update, officials had not indicated when the roadway would fully reopen.

South Hershey Road is a two-lane rural corridor that carries a steady flow of local and through traffic between West Hanover Township and neighboring communities in eastern Dauphin County. The intersection with Devonshire Heights Road sits in a mixed residential and open, rural stretch of the township.

Pennsylvania State Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash, including how many vehicles were involved and what preceded the collision. A full accounting of the incident is expected once the reconstruction is complete. The official crash report will be available from Pennsylvania State Police once their investigation concludes, and anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to contact the investigating state police station.