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Head-On Collision Kills 1, Another In Hospital

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Police are investigating a head-on crash in Westmoreland County.

It happened overnight around 2 a.m. in Hempfield Township.

The crash happened on the westbound side of Route 30 near the East Pittsburgh Street ramp, leaving two people trapped in their cars.

Police say a car was traveling the wrong direction on the dark road when it rammed into another vehicle head-on. A third car was also hit when the second car spun out of control. That driver was not injured.

Police say the two cars traveling westbound were coming around a curve just before the crash, calling it bad timing.

"Route 30 is a dangerous roadway, there's no question, it's a dangerous roadway," State Police Cpl. John Tamewitz said. "You have to pay attention to the signs and you have to pay attention to what ramp you're getting on."

Officials said the driver of the car traveling the wrong direction, 27-year-old Tiffany Alcorn of Hunker, Pa., died in surgery at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital just before 5 a.m.

Alcorn was not wearing a seat belt.

The 24-year-old driver of the car directly hit by Alcorn was taken to Allegheny General Hospital.

The extent of his injures are unknown, but not believed to be life-threatening.

A section of the road was closed down for a while as police responded to the scene, but is now open again.

Responders also say this was not the first time they've responded to an accident in the same spot.

"We've had a couple accidents like this before," Hempfield Fire Chief Tom Kline said. "Both on this side of lane of travel with a head-on collision."

"Two years ago, we had a fatality. Same deal, we had somebody going the wrong direction and had a head on collision," he said.

The two victims were flown to local hospitals, but the extent of their injuries is unknown.

State police continue to investigate.

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