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Melissa 'Missy' Lynn Deroba, 49, of Middletown, died an accidental death due to smoke inhalation and thermal burns, according to Dauphin County Press Secretary Jennifer Fitch.
A tractor-trailer rear-ended Missy's grey 2005 Ford Escape, bursting into flames, as the truck continued to rear-end another tractor-trailer — becoming stuck under the passenger side of the trailer, according to a Pennsylvania State Police release the following morning.
The fiery three-vehicle collision happened on Route 283 West at the Toll House Road exit in Londonderry Township around 11 a.m. on Nov. 7, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler.
"There was a fire and we do have one confirmed fatality," Schreffler said. State police later confirmed that Missy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the tractor-trailer that became lodged under the other tractor-trailer was taken to Hershey Medical Center, according to PSP.
Traffic on Route 283 was detoured at the Toll House Road exit and put back on the highway at Vine Street while crews remained on the scene, Schreffler explained.
The highway reopened at 4:12 p.m., according to Schreffler.
The state police are continuing to investigate and are asking any witnesses or anyone with dash camera footage of the area to contact PSP Harrisburg at (717) 671-7500.
Missy is originally from Sunbury and is an alumna of Millersville University, family friend Mikalah Copenhaver wrote on a GoFundMe launched to help Missy's family.
She was a cancer survivor, a proud mom, and a dear friend to many, but she was most known for her love of camping and being a coach at the Gymnastics Center of Hershey for the past 25 years.
She is survived by her husband John, daughter, and "her three fur babies – Buddy, Ginger, and Morgan," Mikalah said.
Her community has been sharing about its loss on social media:
The money raised by the GoFundMe with help Missy's family cover the funeral costs any "donations that exceed the funeral costs will go towards Claire’s college education," Mikalah explained.
Click here to donate to the GoFundMe campaign.
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