Driver Killed In Crash On Route 30 Near Greensburg
UNITY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A driver was killed in a multi-vehicle car crash that shut down Route 30 in both directions Thursday night in Unity Township, just outside Greensburg.
The crash happened around 7:30 p.m., near Route 30 and Lewis Road, near the Toyota dealership. Three cars were involved in the wreck. In addition to the driver killed, five other people were hurt. State Police had not released information on their conditions early Friday morning.
The Westmoreland County Coroner's Officer identified the deceased driver as Richard McLaughlin, 72. Authorities say McLaughlin was turning onto Route 30 when his Buick Regal was struck by a Volkswagen GTI that was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a red light.
Joy Anderson, who lives in a townhouse near the crash site, says she heard the accident. She said she thought for a moment it was thunder, until she heard sirens.
Anderson said she didn't hear any brakes squealing prior to the crash.
"Then, about 10 minutes later, we heard sirens. There was no screeching whatsoever, so that's why we didn't think it was a crash until we heard the sirens. It was just sudden," Anderson said.
One of three cars involved in violent 3 car crash tonight which shut down Rt 30 in Unity Twp., Westmoreland Co. pic.twitter.com/xh0EQq4EZv
— Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) April 28, 2017
Jolene Hill, a nurse working late in a nearby office, told KDKA's Ralph Iannotti that she ran barefoot to a Volkswagen involved in the wreck.
She said a man was unconscious but breathing in the front seat. He needed help, so she held his trachea because she knew his airway passage had to be kept open.
Another nurse soon arrived and also assisted until first responders showed up.
"There was so much debris everywhere, and so much to look at, but there wasn't noise. That's the scariest thing, so when you don't hear anything, you know it's bad," said Hill.
State Police investigators worked to reconstruct the accident as debris from the wreck was scattered over several hundred feet.
One car was split in half, and another car's engine could be seen lying in the middle of the highway.
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