Police: Man With Empty Gas Tank, Good Samaritan Were Killed After Falling From Parkway
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- In the wake of the deaths of two men along the Parkway East on Saturday, the most critical question remains unanswered. Were the men knocked off the overpass by the accident or did they try to jump to safety?
"We are unsure at this point if they made impact [with the vehicle] or if they jumped to avoid impact," Pennsylvania State Trooper Melinda Bonderanka said.
Which is why the police are asking for help.
"Even if you think it's little, it might piece together what we're looking for," Bonderanka said.
What is certain is that 34-year-old Jason Jackson's SUV stalled in the right lane of the outbound parkway Saturday afternoon over Second Avenue. The shoulder of that overpass is not wide enough for a car, so Jackson's Acura was partially in the right-hand driving lane. That's when 39-year-old Landen Jones stopped his Honda behind Jackson's car to offer help.
Trooper Bonderanka says Jackson believed his car had run out of gas.
"Mr. Jackson and Mr. Jones go together in Mr. Jones's vehicle to a gas station -- we don't know which gas station -- go and get gas. They come back. They put the gas in that vehicle and it still doesn't start," she said. "We did get some phone calls that Mr. Jackson was trying to wave vehicles over into that center lane."
That's when police say 38-year-old Joaquin Smalley's VW Passat appears to have tried to swerve but hit Jones' Honda in the left rear. The two men went over the side barrier of the road.
"Once they make contact with the ground on Second Avenue, they are immediately struck by the traveling motorist on Second Avenue," Bonderanka said.
Both men were killed.
The car was being driven by a 23-year-old woman who Bonderanka says is "emotionally ... a wreck from my understanding."
Watch Lisa Washington's report --
Jason Jackson, a father of four, is remembered on a GoFundMe page as "funny, always full of energy, and he loved his children."
"We lost a real one today, this one hurt ... You was truly one of a kind," friend Vegas Rich said on Facebook.
Landen Jones, a fitness instructor, is remembered by friend Jon Call on Facebook as a mentor.
"Landen showed me how to be proud, lose the negative talk, and be kind to myself," he said.
Also on Facebook, friend Jessie Bivens described Landen as "a force of nature, his energy was absolutely infectious ... his tragic death was as he lived helping someone else."
- RELATED STORY: 2 Victims In Deadly Parkway Accident Identified
Bonderanka says anyone who finds themselves stranded on any interstate should first call 911.
"The tunnels are staffed 24/7. They have big crew trucks, they have tow trucks that all have arrow boards on the back, and they can come behind you and be that barrier so you have protection," she said.
Investigators say the first call to 911 Saturday came after the collision.
There are a couple of GoFundMe accounts set up to help the families.
To donate to the family of Jones, click HERE.
To donate to the family of Jackson, click HERE.