Mail Carrier Dies After Suffering Medical Emergency, Crashing Mail Truck Into Porch And Over Hillside
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IRWIN, Pa. (KDKA) -- A mail carrier has died after crashing his mail truck over a hillside, hitting the front porch of a home in Irwin.
The crash happened after 10 a.m. on Main Street.
The mail carrier apparently suffered some sort of medical emergency behind the wheel, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
James Richardson lives across the street said he was home when the accident happened.
"My dog barked because she heard the crash I'm assuming," said Richardson.
The mail truck rolled over a hillside, and then slammed into a porch before stopping in a grassy area.
Postal Worker is dead after suffering a medical emergency behind the wheel of his mail truck. The vehicle left the roadway in the 700 block of Main Street, Irwin. The truck struck a home before coming to a rest. The name of the postal is not being released. pic.twitter.com/jlNg2MfTej
— Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) February 7, 2019
Richardson says that first responders were on the scene within minutes.
"They got to him as quick as they could, got him out of the vehicle," said Richardson.
The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment. But officials now say he has died.
The Westmoreland County Coroner's Office has identified the postal worker as 47-year-old Ronald Sopko, of Murrysville.
Westmoreland County coroner identified the postal worker who lost control of his postal truck and died in Irwin as 47 year old Ronald Sopko..
— Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) February 7, 2019
No one was in the home at the time of the crash.
Main Street was shut down while crews cleared the scene. Richardson said that the part of Main Street where the accident happened has always been a threat.
"Somebody could have been killed or injured and this is a bad section of road," said Richardson.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.