WHARTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Five people are dead after a crash in Fayette County on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency crews were called to the intersection of National Pike 40 and New Meadow Run Drive in Wharton Township at 1:21 p.m.
One of the victims was an infant.
“No one wants to see a child involved,” said Fire Chief Brian VanSickle with the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department. “Today was just one of the days I wish I didn’t have to experience.”
National Pike 40 was closed in both directions between Route 381 and Dinner Bell 5 Forks Road. It reopened just before 6 p.m.
A commercial vehicle and two passenger vehicles were involved in the crash, according to state police.
The victims have been identified as Harold Nibert, 55, Bradley Thivener, 47, Krystal May, 36, Amanda Dawson, 33, and her son Kullen Dawson, 7 months.
The coroner’s report said the victims were in a black Honda accord when it crossed the double yellow line, striking a tractor-trailer head-on.
The semi-truck was towed away nearly five hours later with its front hood smashed and trailer removed.
All five victims are from Delaware, Ohio.
VanSickle said the sharp curve at the bottom of the hill on the busy freeway where the crash happened is tricky to navigate and has blind spots in both directions.
“That stretch of road is a dangerous stretch of road. We’ve had, over the years, numerous fatalities,” he said. “Today’s event was probably the worst one we’ve had.”
Troopers said the driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt. Two people in the third car had minor injuries.
The tragedy has left the rural town heartbroken.
“Terrible thing for our community; terrible thing for my firefighters,” said VanSickle. “It’s just one of those painful things you hate to see.”
The fire chief believes speed played a role in the crash saying that the road was dry at the time, and it wasn’t raining. That will be part of the investigation.
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