A Saturday evening drive on Beacon Road in Penn Township ended in tragedy when a car left the roadway, slammed into a tree and burst into flames, killing both people inside, authorities said.
First responders arrived to find the vehicle engulfed in fire and both occupants gravely injured. Crews from Penn Township and neighboring volunteer fire departments moved quickly to knock down the flames and secure the scene. The crash was reported shortly after 7 p.m., and police said only one vehicle was involved as investigators work to piece together what went wrong.
Victims identified
Butler County Chief Deputy Coroner John C. Hanovick identified the driver as Cody Lee Huffman, 38, of Harmony, and the passenger as T.V. Garrett, 45, of Cranberry. Huffman was pronounced dead at the scene, while Garrett later died at Butler Memorial Hospital, according to Cranberry Eagle. Local reporting said autopsy findings listed multiple traumas as the cause of death.
What officials say
Penn Township police told dispatchers the wreck was a single-vehicle crash and that emergency crews were on scene within minutes of the call, according to reporting by WTAE. That outlet and other local coverage report that the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department, along with Middlesex Township police and volunteer firefighters, assisted at the scene.
Scene and investigation
Local outlets report the car was burning after impact and that investigators from the Penn Township Police Department are handling the crash probe. Officials have not released any findings on speed, possible impairment or mechanical failure while the inquiry continues. Media coverage indicates multiple agencies responded and the coroner’s office processed the victims as the investigation proceeds, per reporting by Cranberry Eagle.
Witnesses asked to come forward
Authorities have asked anyone who may have seen the crash or who has dash-cam or other video from the area to contact Penn Township police to assist investigators, according to local reports. Funeral arrangements and additional family notifications had not been released publicly as of publication.
