A 43-year-old New Jersey man is dead after his car was struck from behind on Interstate 380 in Monroe County Wednesday afternoon, sending his vehicle onto the shoulder, down a grassy embankment, and into a tree. Patricio S. Correa Serrano of Belleville, New Jersey was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, while the driver of the other vehicle suffered only suspected minor injuries and declined medical treatment.
According to FOX56, the crash happened shortly after 2:15 p.m. Wednesday on southbound I-380 near mile marker 4.3. State police said Correa Serrano's vehicle traveled onto the right shoulder, went down a grassy embankment, and struck a tree after being hit from behind. The driver who struck him, 30-year-old Manuel A. Guzman of Paterson, New Jersey, was not seriously hurt. The crash remains under investigation, according to police.
Highway Shut Down for Hours During Investigation
The collision forced an extended closure of I-380 South as crews worked the scene, according to the same report. Separately, WNEP covered the crash, and the Monroe County coroner confirmed one person died, according to WNEP. The closure lasted while crews worked the scene.
Pennsylvania State Police Troop N covers Monroe County, and its personnel investigate crashes there, per Pennsylvania State Police. Whether Troop N will pursue charges against Guzman, and whether speed, distraction, or a mechanical issue contributed to the impact, remain open questions as the investigation continues.
Other I-380 Crash Coverage
Earlier crash coverage included a multi-vehicle crash on southbound I-380 near the Mount Pocono exit in January that killed one driver and injured two others after one moving vehicle struck a disabled car on the roadway and then a third vehicle, according to WNEP's earlier coverage.
Monroe County recorded 2,047 total traffic crashes resulting in 19 fatalities during 2025, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data reported by Times News, with countywide traffic deaths dipping slightly alongside a broader statewide decline. Rear-end collisions like Wednesday's remain common statewide, accounting for roughly 19.1% of all motor vehicle crashes across Pennsylvania and ranking as the third most common crash type in the Commonwealth, according to PennDOT crash statistics cited by openPR.
What Pennsylvania Law Says About Rear-End Crashes
Under Pennsylvania statutes 75 Pa.C.S. § 3310 and § 3361, drivers are required to maintain an assured clear distance ahead and travel at a speed reasonable for road hazards, according to Justia. The circumstances of each collision remain relevant to its investigation.
I-380 is a Pennsylvania freeway. The article does not provide further details about safety projects along the corridor.
The Monroe County coroner's investigation into Correa Serrano's death is ongoing.
