Gavin J. Long Obituary, Death – A motorcyclist who died in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 78 in Salisbury Township has been identified as 20-year-old Gavin J. Long, a resident of Middle Paxton Township in Dauphin County. The fatal incident occurred Sunday morning, and Long was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lehigh County Coroner at 11:15 a.m. His cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force injuries sustained during the crash, and the death was ruled accidental.
The collision took place around 10 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-78 near mile marker 58.8, according to Trooper Nathan Branosky, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police’s Troop M. At the time of the crash, Long was riding a 2024 Yamaha motorcycle in the middle lane. Ahead of him in the same lane was a 2022 Volvo semi-trailer. In the adjacent left lane, a 2025 Cadillac Escalade was traveling alongside Long.
According to the initial investigation, Long attempted to change lanes and in doing so, sideswiped the rear driver’s side of the semi-trailer. The impact from this collision caused Long to be thrown from his motorcycle and subsequently struck by the semi-truck. The force of the incident was fatal. During the crash, Long’s motorcycle also made contact with the Cadillac, hitting the passenger-side front fender and bumper.
Authorities have confirmed that no one else was injured in the crash. The drivers of both the semi-trailer and the Cadillac Escalade were not reported to be hurt.
An active investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office is collaborating with the Pennsylvania State Police’s Fogelsville barracks and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office to piece together the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
This fatal accident adds to the growing concern about motorcycle safety on high-speed highways, especially when traffic involves large vehicles such as semi-trailers. The incident highlights how even a brief maneuver like a lane change can have devastating consequences when surrounded by much larger vehicles at highway speeds.
As of now, no charges have been filed, and authorities are continuing to examine all contributing factors, including road conditions, vehicle positions, and potential visibility issues at the time of the crash.
Gavin J. Long’s untimely death has left a community mourning a young life lost far too soon. Further updates will be provided as the investigation develops.
