Cherry Picker Vehicle Falls Off Truck, Overturns Along I-79
ALEPPO TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- State police are investigating an accident stopped traffic this afternoon on Interstate 79 when a cherry picker vehicle became detached from the flat-bed truck that was hauling it and overturned.
The accident happened just before noon along I-79 southbound. The flatbed truck lost its load about a half mile south of the Mt. Nebo exit in Ohio Township.
"A flatbed, carrying a cherry picker in the back," said Trooper Robin Mungo, of the Pennsylvania State Police. "It appears now that he had a tire that blew out; speed is possibly a factor. He lost control of his load, lost control of the vehicle. The load fell off of the back of the flat bed. The cherry picker ended up on its side on the left berm on the guide wire."
No one was hurt in the accident.
"It could have been extremely nasty cause you have this huge cherry picker that's top heavy, and it just flipped right over on its side," said Trooper Mungo. "It's not easy to get that upright."
State police say they are blaming two factors, speed and a blown out tire.
However, they will also take a look at how the rig was secured to the trailer it was towing.
"We realize there have been some tragedies in the past because of loads not properly secured," said Trooper Mungo. "So when they do the inspection tomorrow, they make a determination exactly how that load was secured and if it was secured properly."
Meanwhile, the driver of the truck will be given several citations for violations.
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