2-vehicle crash causes tri-axle rollover, driver flown to hospital
CENTER TWP — Emergency personnel flew the driver of a tri-axle truck to a Pittsburgh hospital Tuesday after a two-vehicle crash on Route 8 in Center Township.
Butler County 911 dispatchers initially called the crews at 11:10 a.m. to a report a tri-axle rollover on Route 8, just south of its intersection with Sunset Drive and just north of the Unionville Fire Department, which quickly dispatched its firefighters.
Firefighters said when they arrived on scene, they found two vehicles involved, a white SUV with some front-end damage and the tri-axle truck.
The truck sat tipped on its passenger side with a portion of the northbound guardrail crumpled beneath it. The truck appeared to be carrying sand or fine gravel that had poured onto the asphalt.
Firefighters said the truck's driver was conscious and alert, and they had to remove the windshield to help him from the vehicle. The driver then was placed onto a stretcher, taken by ambulance to the nearby fire station and flown by helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital.
Firefighters said the SUV's driver suffered suspected minor injuries, but it was unclear whether she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to firefighters, the SUV had been on Sunset Drive and pulled in front of the truck. They said the truck tried to avoid a collision by moving toward the right, but the two vehicles still collided.
Firefighters said the truck rolled on its side, impacted by the weight of materials in its bed.
State police were investigating the crash. Route 8 between its intersections with Mahood Road and Sunset Drive was completely closed to traffic following the crash.
Multiple tow trucks were needed to remove the SUV and right the tri-axle. A backhoe was also seen scooping the fine, loose material on the road and into a second vehicle.
Crews cleared the scene around 2 p.m.
