On Tuesday, in Salem Township, Pennsylvania, one person was killed in a violent collision involving a semi truck.
Police reported that the incident occurred around 6 a.m. along Route 22 near the Lamplighter Restaurant in Westmoreland County.
Initial reports show that the incident began when a semi truck traveling westbound may have run a red light.
Next, a pickup truck legally drove into the intersection from Mark Drive when it was suddenly T-boned by the semi truck. The semi jackknifed into the eastbound lanes.
The force of the semi’s impact pushed the pickup at least 40 yards down the road. It came to a halt and was pinned between the semi truck and a concrete barrier.
A chopper captured a birds-eye view of the accident:
According to CBS Pittsburgh, the pickup truck driver was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead.
A medical examiner identified the victim as Albert Tomasino, 67, of Jeannette.
Forbes Road Fire Department Assistant Chief Steven Rosatti told media:
“It took us about 55 minutes to get him out. His legs were down underneath, his feet were down underneath, trapped under the pedals.”
Witness Joseph Tatters stated:
“One of the guys was able to bust out the window with his boot, he had a steel toe boot on, just to see if the guy was talking or coherent or anything. He wasn’t responsive to us.”
But the damage didn’t stop there. Five other vehicles were involved in the chain reaction.
After the initial collision, another tractor trailer was struck. Four other vehicles collided when the tractor trailer jackknifed and they scattered across lanes of traffic.
WATE reported that the truck driver, has been identified as 26-year-old Cruz Humberto Guzman-Nieves of Illinois.
The trucker told officers officers that he tried to brake but his truck, hauling Coca-Cola products, it was just too heavy.
He also informed police that the truck did not have an engine brake. Guzman-Nieves said he attempted to slow down at the traffic light but was unable to.
Officials have charged the truck driver with numerous infractions, including homicide by vehicle, careless driving, and driving at a safe speed, aggravated assault by vehicle, and failure to stop at a red light.
His bail was posted at $500,000.
Two others involved in the crash were taken to a hospital, and their condition is unknown.
HAZMAT crews arrived at the scene to clean up spilled oil and fuel from the vehicles involved.
Route 22 was closed in both directions and has since reopened.