1 Dead, 5 Injured In Indiana Co. Coal Truck Crash
PINE TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- One person was killed and five others were injured in an accident involving a coal truck and two other vehicles in Indiana County Tuesday morning.
The crash happened around 7 a.m. on Route 422 at Motorcycle Lane in Pine Township.
Ripped and torn sheet metal, twisted steel, the odor of burnt rubber, diesel fuel - this was Route 422 in Strongstown Tuesday morning.
An eastbound, fully-loaded coal truck, a small passenger vehicle and a Suburban headed westbound would be collected in the crash.
"For whatever reason, the passenger vehicle was impacted by the commercial motor vehicle," said Trooper John Matchick, of Pennsylvania State Police.
The smaller vehicle was destroyed.
"We had four people in that vehicle, one of which was the confirmed fatality, which was the driver," said Trooper Matchick.
Authorities now identify that person as 67-year-old James Norris of Kittanning.
The Suburban was next. It was slammed into by the now burning tri-axle that had careened off the road.
"I ran to the window and all I saw was a coal truck coming down the road in a ball of flames. It landed 15 feet from our house," said Tonya Kendra, a neighbor.
Click here for more photos from the crash scene.
Kendra and her children were inside the home when it all happened.
"I just kept screaming, 'Get out of the house now!'" said Kendra.
Steve Misner lives close to the accident scene.
"I've only seen an accident out here one time besides today, and I've lived here over 30 years," Misner said.
He tried to help the injured.
"We didn't want to see anyone pass away, but it happened," Misner added.
There's no word on the conditions of those who were injured.
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