Early morning commuters faced delays today on I-279 due to an automobile accident that involved a PennDOT vehicle. The collision near the Mt. Nebo exit was reported just after 7:20 a.m., causing significant traffic disruptions. Channel 11 relayed an Allegheny County 911 official's statement confirming the incident. A PennDOT official noted that one of their workers engaged in litter removal was involved in the crash. The condition of the PennDOT employee, who was caught up in the accident, remains uncertain.
As a result of the accident, all southbound lanes from the I-79/279 split to a mile south of Camp Horne Road were initially closed. According to the same Channel 11 report, there is now a single lane restriction near the crash. Drivers caught by surprise by the lane closure are being advised to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.
In a separate but related incident, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 stated that a portion of Parkway North was shut down for about an hour on Saturday morning due to an accident involving another PennDOT truck. This collision happened in the southbound lanes of I-279 near the Mt. Nebo exit, mirroring today's troubles, and during a litter removal operation.
The Parkway North, between the split and Camp Horne Road, is now partially reopened with a single lane allowing passage, according to information obtained by Pittsburgh's Action News 4. Ambiguity surrounded the incident as it was initially unclear if any injuries existed. Currently, Pennsylvania State Police are at the helm of the investigation, delving into the specifics of the crash to piece together how the day's events unfolded.
