The Google Maps image date is September 2014 (fine print at bottom of page) and we must assume it looked the same on the accident date. It's entirely possible it looked very different on the accident date. Paint spills, fire or previous accident damage to road surface, debris on roadway, etc.
Also missing from all the reports are weather conditions. Did I miss them? I don't see it mentioned at all in the Times or Detroit Free Press articles. Are we assuming it was a sunny and clear day? That view is going to look very different during a thunderstorm.
Pennsylvania seems to be way ahead of other states in their willingness to research safety issues and make changes to their roads and laws. It was the first state I know of that made it a law that you have to have your headlights on if you are using your rain wipers. Makes sense now but they did it first and it definitely helps others see you. They also paint big white circles on the interstate in areas where rear-end crashes are a problem, so you have a very clear visual and know to keep at least three 'dots' behind the car ahead. There are plenty more examples but I feel like this is the perfect state to have something unfortunate like this happen.