Berks County, PA (August 5, 2026) – A motorcyclist was injured on Monday night, August 3, in a collision with a tractor-trailer on I-78 eastbound near mile marker 25.1 in Upper Bern Township. It happened around 8:03 p.m. Upper Bern Township is a rural community in Berks County, along the Blue Mountain ridge.
A medevac helicopter was requested to fly the injured rider to a hospital. I-78 eastbound was shut down at mile marker 23 while crews responded. No further details about the extent of the injuries or the cause of the wreck were immediately available.
We hope for a full recovery for the motorcyclist.
Why Are Motorcycle-Tractor-Trailer Crashes So Dangerous?
Accidents between a motorcycle and a tractor-trailer carry serious risk because of the enormous size and weight difference between the two vehicles. A fully loaded semi can weigh dozens of times more than a motorcycle, meaning nearly all of the force in an impact is absorbed by the smaller, far less protected vehicle.
Large trucks also have significant blind spots along their sides and rear, sometimes called “no-zones,” where a motorcycle can be difficult or impossible for the truck driver to see. A rider traveling in one of these blind spots for even a short distance can go unnoticed until it’s too late to react.
When a serious highway injury is reported, a medevac helicopter is requested to shorten transport time to a trauma center, since ground transport in heavy traffic or a partially closed roadway can take significantly longer. Shutting down lanes farther back from the immediate area also gives the helicopter a safer place to land near the response.
