HANCOCK, Md. — Only Channel 11 News got a look at U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s mangled SUV following a crash caused by the Senator on Sunday morning as new questions arise about his driving.
WPXI Chief Investigative Reporter Rick Earle traveled to Hancock, Md. Thursday to track down the crushed SUV and talk to the tow truck company that responded to the crash scene.
As we reported Wednesday, Maryland State Police found Sen. Fetterman at fault for the crash, saying he was speeding when he hit the back of the other car on Interstate 70 near the Maryland-West Virginia border.
A witness told police that Fetterman’s vehicle passed her at a “high rate of speed, well over the posted speed limit” before the crash.
The father of the garage owner described a violent collision based on the damage.
“He hit that car so hard it come clear up on top of the SUV. I mean that shows that man hit that woman a heck of a lick,” Roland Lanehart said. “It’s just crushed completely. Thank God the woman seemed alright but you don’t know ‘til a day later in some of those accidents.”
A 62-year-old woman from Pennsylvania was in the other vehicle. The woman, Fetterman and his wife Gisele were all taken to a hospital in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. All three of them were wearing seatbelts.
After being released from the hospital and making it home to Braddock, Fetterman, holding a bag of frozen food that he used to ice a sore shoulder, and a bottle of Tylenol, posted a video with his wife, thanking his constituents for the support.
Police say the road was dry and in good condition at the time of the crash. According to the police report, Fetterman was not tested for alcohol or substance use.
Fetterman has had some well-documented health issues.
Two years ago, during the campaign he suffered a stroke. Last year he went to the hospital after becoming lightheaded during a Democratic retreat.
The speed limit is 70 mph, but police haven’t said how fast he was going. It’s unknown if Fetterman was distracted at the time of the crash.
Fetterman tells Channel 11 News he needs to drive slower and ‘do better’ following weekend crash
Sunday’s crash isn’t the first driving issue the senator has had this year.
The Washington Post first reported Fetterman was ticketed for going 34 mph over the speed limit. 11 Investigates has learned that ticket was issued in North Huntingdon in March.
We reached out to Sen. Fetterman’s office and received this statement:
“This was an unfortunate accident on Sunday and I’m relieved and grateful that there were no serious injuries.
“I’ve been driving for almost 40 years, and I’ve gotten a small handful of tickets. When I sped, I was held accountable. I need to do better and do it slower – and I will.”
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