1 Dead, 1 Arrested In Fatal Murrysville Accident
MURRYSVILLE (KDKA) – One man has been arrested following a fatal accident in Murrysville Wednesday night.
According to police, the accident happened on Route 22 just before midnight near Mellon Road.
Police measured and reconstructed the two-car accident for more than seven hours.
According to Murrysville Police Chief Tom Seefeld, they had a lot of area to cover.
"Based on the debris field, almost one thousand feet, that tells you the vehicle was moving," Chief Seefeld said.
Investigators said 66-year-old Francis Cossick was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt and his airbag deployed when his vehicle was struck from the rear.
Cossick, of Camp Hill was behind the wheel of a 2004 Volvo.
The man police believe struck his vehicle, David McCormick, 43, of Pittsburgh, was driving a 2008 Audi.
"They were actually traveling eastbound, they were in motion, not at a traffic light or anything like that. The suspect's vehicle came up at what we believe was a high rate of speed and rear-ended the victim's vehicle on the highway in the right lane," Chief Seefeld said.
The speed limit on the road is 45 MPH, but police believe more than speed was a factor here.
"We do suspect driving under the influence. He has been arrested for suspicious of driving under the influence of alcohol. Other charges are pending with that also," Chief Seefeld said.
Police said members of Cossick's family saw the accident in their rearview mirror.
"Unfortunately, they were in front of the victim's vehicle," Chief Seefeld said.
According to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, McCormick has a long record of DUIs and speeding dating back to 2006.
McCormick was not injured in the accident and could face more serious charges including vehicular homicide.
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