At least three people are dead after a crash involving two cars and a tractor-trailer in Fayette County.
Pennsylvania State Police confirmed that three people were killed in the three-vehicle crash on Route 40 near Laurel Road in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County.
The crash involved a tractor-trailer and two passenger vehicles, police said. Route 40 was closed in both directions for several hours.
At least three people are dead after a crash involving a tractor-trailer on Route 40 in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County.
(Photo: Garett Rugg)
Photos from the crash showed debris all over the road and a fire over the guardrail in a wooded area. Marc Spagnola was on his way to Maryland when he recorded video of the aftermath.
“I saw the glow of the fire and the flames were as high as some of the treetops, and I was like, ‘man this ain’t good,'” Spagnola said.
A preliminary investigation determined that the tractor-trailer was traveling eastbound on Route 40 when it entered the westbound lanes and struck one of the passenger vehicles, a Ford pickup truck, head-on, state police said. The pickup truck then collided head-on with a Chevrolet Express van.
Police confirmed the drivers of the tractor-trailer, the Ford pickup, and the front-seat passenger of the Chevrolet were pronounced deceased on scene. The five remaining passengers in the Chevrolet were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment.
“I’m no expert and I’m not saying anybody was in the wrong, but that’s a steep grade. That road is a pretty steep grade and there’s a lot of truck traffic on it because of the way GPS runs people,” Spagnola said.
The crash happened near the Youghiogheny River Lake. The winding, hilly stretch of Route 40 is known for its sharp curves and steep drops.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker, who responded to last night’s crash, is pushing for a safety review, saying the road’s design, grades and tight turns make it unsafe for heavy rigs.
“This is becoming a public health problem. It’s going to be my mission to stop all heavy interstate tractor-trailers on this two-lane road,” Baker said.
In addition, many truck drivers take Route 40 to avoid paying tolls, cutting through these two-lane mountain roads that weren’t built for heavy traffic.
“The tolls are a little bit increased to go the longer route, however, what price do we put on a life of someone that’s lost because of a few dollars?” Baker said.
The crash remains under investigation, but the district attorney says charges are unlikely.
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