Big Rig Damages Two Houses, Cars, Utility Poles in Pa.
Dec. 13--A Kentucky truck driver was admitted to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, in fair condition as a result of a 4:10 p.m. Monday accident on Springfield Pike in Connellsville Township.
The pike, also known as Route 711, was closed in both directions until early today while the truck and load were removed and utility poles replaced. The truck also damaged two houses, but no residents suffered injuries.
Volunteer firefighters blocked off the two-lane road that leads up and down Chestnut Ridge, both the entrance and exit of McCoy Hollow Road.
Rodney Crow, 44, was driving down the mountain toward Connellsville when his tractor-trailer overturned on its side, striking two houses in the 1300 block, three utility poles and several vehicles parked at one of the houses. The trailer contained finished wood for cabinets, said Robbie Leiberger, assistant chief for the Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department.
"Those Connellsville Township guys did a great job extricating him," said Rick Adobato, director of operations at Fayette EMS. "They had him out in 20 minutes. STAT MedEvac was on the scene and flew him out immediately. He was stable when we pulled him out."
Leiberger said one house was unoccupied and no one in the other suffered injuries.
West Penn Power's website reported that power outages would be restored by late yesterday.
In addition to Connellsville Township, volunteers from New Haven Hose Company responded to the crash site, Leiberger said. Normalville VFD and New Haven Hose helped with traffic control.
Armstrong Cable, Verizon and West Penn Power worked to restore poles and lines affected by the wreck. Leiberger said two poles had been replaced before 10 p.m.
Burnsworth Towing sent several trucks to remove the tractor-trailer and its load. The North Union firm will remove all debris from the road, Leiberger said.
State police remained on the scene late last night, continuing their investigation.
Copyright 2011 - The Daily Courier, Connellsville, Pa.