Burgettstown man killed in rollover crash on I-79
A Burgettstown man died Monday morning after his Jeep went over a guardrail on Interstate 79 in Amwell Township.
The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. on I-79 northbound near the Washington-Greene county line.
James Coppock Brown Jr., 66, was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:20 a.m., according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. The exact cause and manner of death are still unknown.
According to state police, Brown attempted to pass another vehicle using the left shoulder and center median when he hit the end of a guardrail. Brown’s vehicle crossed both northbound lanes, became airborne and rolled down an embankment off the right side of the roadway. Brown, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation by state police. Amwell Township and Lone Pine volunteer fire departments, Ambulance and Chair Service and the UPMC Paramedic Response Unit assisted at the scene.
Traffic was reduced to one lane near the scene of the accident.