A tri-axle truck crashed early Tuesday on Route 66 at Poke Run Church Road in Washington Township, injuring one person and transporting them to the hospital.
Police Chief Jason Montgomery stated that the accident involved a single vehicle. Montgomery said the motorist was alert and conscious.
The cause is being investigated.
“It looks like he was trying to slow down for traffic, and he went up over the hill,” she said.
Long skid tracks were visible leading up to the incident site, where firefighters from at least five fire departments attempted to control traffic and remove debris.
White Valley, Sardis, Upper Burrell, and Saltsburg assisted the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company.
This is the second time in as many weeks that an accident has halted traffic along that route. On Halloween, a tanker slammed head-on with an SUV, killing 48-year-old Christopher J. Negley of Washington Township. Negley was alone in the SUV. The tanker driver did not sustain any injuries.
That accident occurred just south of where the route splits from Route 356 near the former state police station.
Negley’s SUV was going south on Route 66 when it crossed into the northbound lane, colliding with the tractor-trailer.
The crash locations are approximately 2 miles apart.
According to neighbors, there have been several crashes in the area, most of which have occurred near the crossroads of Route 66 with Sportsman Drive and Pine Run Church Road.
On Tuesday, authorities said it was fortunate that no additional vehicles were involved.
Route 66 was closed for approximately two hours between Poke Run Church Road and Fox Road.
It reopened about 1 p.m., according to Westmoreland County dispatch.
Reference: 1 injured in Washington Township crash; Route 66 reopened