PennDOT worker taken to hospital after driver hits litter cleanup truck on interstate
A PennDOT worker cleaning litter from the Parkway North was taken to a hospital Saturday morning after a pickup hit a PennDOT truck, state police said.
The collision happened around 7:30 a.m. on the southbound interstate near the Mt. Nebo Road exit.
State police said that during the litter cleanup operation, a PennDOT crash truck was positioned in the left lane indicating for traffic to move over to the right lane.
A pickup passed the crash-avoidance truck using the right lane and then went back into the left lane, state police said. The pickup hit a second PennDOT truck, pushing it forward and hitting the worker.
The worker’s injuries were not life-threatening, state police said.
The drivers of the pickup and the PennDOT truck were treated on scene and released.
The pickup driver was charged with a traffic offense, state police said.
The Parkway North fully reopened just before 9:45 a.m.
PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan deferred questions about the crash to state police, but urged drivers to use caution.
“We would like to remind drivers that workers in the field are extremely vulnerable,” Cowan said. “Motorists need to move over when encountering emergency, construction, maintenance and tow service vehicles.”
Jack Troy is a TribLive reporter covering the Freeport Area and Kiski Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on Penn Hills municipal affairs. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in January 2024 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at jtroy@triblive.com.
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