A tragic story out of South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County has revealed that a 22-year-old woman was hit and killed by a commercial tractor trailer along Interstate 70 just after 2 a.m.
Pennsylvania State Police say that the woman was killed instantly when she was standing alongside the highway after being involved in another accident. The Connellsville native was in her Jeep driving west in the eastbound I-70 lanes near the Smithton exit by South Huntingdon Township. She hit a minivan head-on, then got out of the vehicle. When she exited the Jeep, she was immediately hit by the tractor trailer. The truck then hit her Jeep. The truck driver did not stop.
A spokesperson from the PA State Police told reporters that investigators are still unsure whether or not the victim was the driver or passenger at the time of the initial accident. The driver of the tractor trailer remains at large and police are continuing to track the driver down. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about what happened to call Belle Vernon's PA State Police barracks at 724-929-6262. Interstate 70 east was shut down to one lane and fully reopened at 10 a.m.
A truck driver's number one priority should always be safety. When truck drivers are not paying attention and hit other vehicles or pedestrians, the end result is usually disastrous. Truck drivers have been known to drive without the proper amount of rest, and lack of sleep is the number one reason why truck accidents happens. Regardless of this driver's reason for hitting a pedestrian, he or she failed to stop and will face serious repercussions once apprehended. At Dallas W. Hartman, P.C., our truck accident attorneys represent injured pedestrians and families of pedestrians who have been hit and killed by commercial tractor trailers. The truck accident lawyers at Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. will work for you to ensure all negligent parties are held responsible. To have your truck accident questions answered, please call 1-800-777-4081 today.
Source: TribLive, "Woman struck, killed after I-70 crash in Westmoreland County" 31 March 2014