Man Killed In Wrong Way Head-On Crash Along Route 30
LIGONIER TOWNSHIP (KDKA)- A man was killed in a violent head-on crash along Route 30 in Westmoreland County Monday night.
The crash happened just before midnight between Route 259 and the West Main Street exit in Ligonier Township.
"We had a vehicle driving in the wrong direction," said Ligonier Township Police Chief Michael Matrunics. "The truck driver, from information from him, didn't have any time. He tried to serve out of the way, but apparently the vehicle drove right into him."
The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as James Fillman, 39, of Ligonier. Police said it appears he drove into the tractor-trailer on purpose.
"This individual was involved with some type of disturbance in the Darlington area," said Chief Matrunics. "He left the scene of that incident and ended up in this accident."
Chief Matrunics said Fillman got into an argument with his wife, said he was going to kill himself, and drove into the tractor-trailer.
The driver of the Galliker's Dairy Products truck had some minor injuries. He was treated and released at the scene.
The crash resulted in a pretty large fuel spill. Roughly 800 gallons of diesel fuel was leaking onto Route 30.
Route 30 was shut down for five hours while hazmat and PennDOT crews cleared the gasoline and rubble from the roadway.
The road has since reopened to traffic.
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