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Petrolia driver killed in crash on Route 38

WASHINGTON TWP — A Petrolia man was killed and another man injured after one pickup truck struck a second disabled pickup early this morning on Route 38, authorities said.

Tyler Ray Thompson, 25, died of severe injuries following the wreck about 4:15 a.m., according to state police.

Emergency crews initially reported finding Thompson unconscious on the road with head injuries, said Capt. Bob Kepple of the North Washington Volunteer Fire Company.

A medical helicopter flew him to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. But he died either en route or after getting there.

Thompson lost control of his northbound 2008 Ford F-150 on Route 38 at Parsonville Road and went off the highway, police said. The truck hit a utility pole and rolled over once or twice before returning to the road.

Authorities said the road was a little wet from the overnight rainfall but it was not known if that was a factor in the crash.

Kepple said Thompson was thrown out of the truck apparently while it rolled. Police, however, could not immediately confirm that Thompson was ejected.

His pickup ended on its wheels and sideways across the southbound lane. Dirt and grass from the rollover wreck covered the badly damaged truck and road where the vehicle ended, emergency crews said.

Some time later, police said, Joshua Lee Sullivan, 33, of Hilliards, driving south in a 2000 Dodge Ram 2500, struck Thompson’s truck.

It was still dark out, Kepple noted, and the disabled truck was black and its headlights were knocked out from the earlier crash.

Sullivan’s pickup, after the hitting the other truck, swerved and hit a mailbox before stopping about 50 yards off the road, authorities said.

Sullivan also was wearing a seat belt and his air bag deployed. He complained of chest pain and was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital.

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