Afternoon drivers on Interstate 70 in Washington County ran into a wall of brake lights on Thursday, May 7, after a deadly crash shut down part of the highway and left one driver dead near the Taylorstown-Claysville stretch.
What happened
A Washington County 911 supervisor told WPXI the crash was reported around 1:22 p.m. near mile marker 10.5 in Buffalo Township. According to the supervisor, a car appeared to have traveled from the eastbound lanes into the westbound lanes. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene; no other injuries were reported, and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.
Where traffic is blocked
Following the collision, westbound traffic in the area was shut down, backing up vehicles and slowing the afternoon commute for miles. Drivers in southwestern Pennsylvania are urged to check 511PA or PennDOT's travel resources for live conditions and alternate routes before heading out.
A stretch that has seen trouble before
This section of I-70 has seen its share of serious incidents and temporary shutdowns in recent years, with troopers and county dispatchers periodically closing interchanges while crash investigations are underway. Local reporting, including coverage from the Observer-Reporter, shows that emergency responses on nearby portions of the interstate have led to both short- and long-term closures.
Pennsylvania State Police had not released additional details at the time of the WPXI report. Further information could come from troopers or the county coroner as the investigation continues. This story will be updated as new official details and any travel advisories are issued.
