A man was killed last Tuesday after a 3-vehicle pile-up shocked rural Indiana County. Pennsylvania State Police told reporters that a Toyota Rav 4 with four people in it crossed the road's center line and drove into the path of an oncoming coal truck. The impact of the initial collision caused the coal truck to hit a Chevy Suburban and then drive off the road into a residential yard, finally coming to a rest less than twenty feet from a home.

One of the home's occupants told police that she heard a loud crash and then looked out the window to see what she described a "big ball of flames" coming at the home. The woman said that others who heard the crash came to the driver's rescue, but that she feared her home would catch fire. In addition to the woman being interviewed, she said that her 14- and 9-year-old daughters were also inside the home.

The driver of the Rav 4 was killed during the accident. The Rav 4's three passengers, the coal truck driver, and the driver of the Suburban were taken to Johnstown's Conemaugh Hospital. Two of the injured victims were Life-Flighted and the other three were rushed there via ambulance. Police told reporters that those who were hurt have suffered injuries that range from critical to moderate.

U.S. Route 422 near Red Mill Road had both northbound and southbound closed for several hours while first responders cleared the area and police investigated the scene and interviewed witnesses. Police would not say for sure if weather was a factor, but hinted that it may have been the cause of the accident.

Source: WTAE, "Kittanning man killed in violent, fiery crash involving coal truck in Indiana County" 19 August