A deadly overnight crash brought Interstate 95 northbound in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond section to a standstill for hours early Friday morning, killing two people and triggering a complex emergency response along one of the region’s busiest travel corridors.
The collision occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-95, just north of the Betsy Ross Bridge. According to police, a black Nissan sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control on a curve in the roadway. The vehicle first struck a concrete barrier, then hit a metal guardrail along the shoulder before crashing into a utility pole and rolling down an embankment, where it finally came to rest.
Both the driver and passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not been released pending notification of family members.
The force of the crash caused damage well beyond the vehicle itself. The impact destroyed sections of the concrete barrier and metal guardrail, while the utility pole was knocked over, leaving live electrical wires hanging over the highway. This created immediate safety hazards that prevented investigators from fully processing the scene until utility crews arrived.
PennDOT and PECO were called in shortly after the crash. PECO crews worked to secure and de-energize the dangling wires, while PennDOT personnel assessed structural damage to the roadway infrastructure. The location of the wreck down an embankment further complicated rescue, recovery, and investigative efforts.
Because of these conditions, all northbound lanes of I-95 remained closed until about 6:00 a.m., resulting in nearly six hours of disruption along a critical artery that connects Philadelphia to communities north and east of the city.
The closure forced commuters from the River Wards — including Port Richmond, Fishtown, and Kensington — onto alternate routes as they attempted to reach Center City and other employment centers. Local streets around the Betsy Ross Bridge interchange absorbed diverted traffic, likely increasing congestion along neighborhood corridors as drivers searched for ways around the shutdown.
The stretch of highway just north of the Betsy Ross Bridge is used daily by thousands of motorists traveling between Pennsylvania and New Jersey or moving between different parts of Philadelphia. When I-95 north was closed, detours funneled traffic onto surface roads, extending travel times for early-morning drivers. Even after the final lanes reopened at 6 a.m., residual delays persisted as traffic patterns normalized.
State police continue to investigate the crash. Initial reports indicate that excessive speed played a role in the driver losing control, particularly at the curve where the accident occurred. Investigators are examining the scene to determine whether additional factors contributed beyond speed, though no further details have been released.
The severity of the impact — which sent the Nissan through multiple barriers, into a utility pole, and down an embankment — suggests the vehicle was traveling well above the posted speed limit at the time of the crash.
In the aftermath, PennDOT must repair the damaged concrete barrier and guardrail to restore the roadway to a safe condition. PECO is responsible for replacing or stabilizing the destroyed utility infrastructure and confirming that electrical systems are functioning properly. Officials have not provided a timeline for completion of these repairs.
This portion of I-95 through Port Richmond has seen serious accidents in the past, often involving speed as a contributing factor. The highway’s design includes curves near bridge approaches that can be hazardous when combined with high speeds, particularly during overnight hours when traffic is lighter and visibility may be reduced.
As the investigation continues, authorities will release the victims’ names once family members have been notified.
