Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania: Danyel Miller Dies After Multi-Vehicle Crash On I-81 Southbound
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania — Danyel Miller, 36, of Shenandoah, tragically passed following a violent multi-vehicle crash Friday night, November 14, 2025, on southbound Interstate 81 near mile marker 135.5, close to McAdoo. The incident began when a 2024 Honda Civic, driven by 28-year-old Rafael Ceballos of Hazleton, attempted to overtake a halted vehicle using the right shoulder before reentering the lane. In doing so, the Honda’s front right side clipped the rear left of a 2024 International tractor-trailer operated by 45-year-old Charvel Prophete of Columbus, Ohio.
The initial contact sent Ceballos’s Honda into multiple uncontrolled spins, ultimately coming to rest stalled in the right lane facing north. As the Honda remained in the roadway, Miller, traveling south in a 2016 Audi Q5, collided with the disabled vehicle while in the left lane. The impact launched Miller’s Audi off the highway pavement, down the median’s grassy slope, where the vehicle flipped several times before coming to rest in the northbound left lane, facing east.
Emergency personnel arrived rapidly at the scene. Despite immediate medical intervention, Miller sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the site by the Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office. Ceballos and Prophete experienced likely minor injuries; Ceballos was transported by McAdoo Fire Company Ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton, and Prophete received treatment at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill East via Shenandoah Community Ambulance. Damage to the Honda Civic and Audi Q5 was significant, while the tractor-trailer sustained only minor rear-end damage and remained stationary on the west shoulder.
The severity of the crash required a full closure of the highway in both directions as first responders, emergency crews, and Pennsylvania State Police investigators from the Frackville barracks managed the scene. Crash reconstruction specialists were brought in to document the incident thoroughly, evaluate vehicle positions, and determine contributing factors. At present, authorities have not released information regarding impairment, speeding, or other potential elements that may have played a role in the accident.
Community members and fellow drivers expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic incident. The collision highlights the inherent dangers of interstate travel, particularly when vehicles attempt risky maneuvers around halted traffic. The sudden and violent nature of the crash has left family, friends, and the local community mourning Miller’s loss, emphasizing the profound impact of such accidents on both loved ones and those who witness them firsthand.
Investigators continue to collect evidence, including vehicle damage assessments, skid marks, and witness accounts, in order to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash. Pennsylvania State Police have pledged to provide updates as more details emerge. Meanwhile, Miller’s family and friends are grappling with the sudden loss, and community members have expressed condolences and support during this difficult time.
Danyel Miller’s passing serves as a tragic reminder of the unpredictability of traffic incidents and the lasting impact on families and communities. Authorities continue their work to understand the precise chain of events, while the Schuylkill County community mourns the life of a valued resident lost far too soon.