Tractor-Trailer Hauling Grapes Overturns On I-70
SOUTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – An overturned tractor-trailer caused quite the sticky situation on Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County early Tuesday morning.
According to police, a tractor-trailer hauling grapes and grape juice overturned around 2:55 a.m. near South Huntingdon Township.
The tractor-trailer, driven by Chad Mathers from Missouri, hit another big rig parked on the side of the road right before the Mount Pleasant/West Newton exit. The driver of the other truck, a car carrier, was sleeping when the grape truck clipped his cab. He is identified as Billy Deleon from New Jersey.
As of 6 a.m., the eastbound side of the road was down to one lane. The cleanup was expected to last until about 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday morning, at a truck stop close by to where the accident happened, Earl Fink, who has been a truck driver for 30 years, weighed in on why the truck driver who was pulled off on the Interstate's shoulder may have chosen that spot.
"Nationwide, we have a lack of proper parking facilities for truckers," Fink said. "A lot of people don't realize that, but this place right here was probably packed up. No place to park and that's probably what he did... he pulled out there and pulled along the road."
Deleon suffered a minor injury in the crash. He was taken to Mon Valley Hospital.
PennDOT crews were using sand to try and cover up the slick grape juice.
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