Greencastle teen killed in I-81 crash; traffic tangled for hours

A Greencastle teen was killed in a three-vehicle accident Thursday on Interstate 81. The crash closed the highway for six hours causing congested traffic in and around the Greencastle-Antrim area.

Pennsylvania State Police reported that Ayron Payge Metcalf, 18, of Greencastle, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 11 a.m. accident at the 2.5 mile marker of the southbound lane of the interstate. Metcalf was a 2012 graduate of Greencastle-Antrim High School.

 Police said Metcalf was the driver of a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier that was attempting to pass a 1997 Freightliner truck tractor operated by Arthur Whipple, 59, of Kane, on the left while both vehicles were traveling south when there was contact between the two. Following the contact, police said the Metcalf vehicle traveled across the grass median and into the northbound lane of I-81 and was struck by a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Ryan Shannon, 26, of Schnecksville.

Franklin County Coroner Jeffrey R. Conner reported late Thursday that Metcalf was pronounced dead at 12:20 p.m. at the scene. An autopsy has been scheduled for today in Allentown.

Police reported Shannon suffered minor injuries and Whipple was unhurt.

Because the interstate was closed in both directions for six hours following the accident, traffic was detoured to other roads and caused increased and slowed travel much of the day. The congestion reached into Maryland and to Chambersburg. I-81 was reopened around 6 p.m.