Minor injuries in major crash
Three people were injured in a three-vehicle crash that sent a 96-year-old woman to a Pittsburgh hospital and left one vehicle on top of another.
South Strabane Township police and fire personnel responded to the crash about 11:30 a.m. Thursday after the driver of a truck said she lost control of her vehicle as she was going south down a hill on Route 19. The Silverado collided with a sport utility vehicle and became airborne before landing on top of it in the parking lot of the Meadows Professional Center plaza at the intersection of Racetrack Road. The woman’s truck also severely damaged a parked car.
“She had no brakes. None. I pushed the pedal with my hand, and nothing but fluid sputtered out,” said South Strabane police Sgt. Robert Cregut.
The driver, Barbara Meier of Jefferson Hills, was walking around at the scene despite reported minor injuries and was taken to Washington Hospital as a precaution. Anna Williams, 96, was Meier’s passenger and suffered lower back and trunk injuries. A UPMC spokeswoman said she is in good condition after being flown to UPMC-Mercy hospital.
Sarah Lindsay of Washington was merging onto Route 19 from Racetrack Road when her vehicle was hit by the truck, according to police. She and her 9-year-old son got themselves out of the vehicle despite it being turned onto its side with the truck resting on top of it. Lindsay reported minor injuries and was walking around, while her son was taken by ambulance to Washington Hospital. His condition was not known.
“This is what you call a good day,” said South Strabane fire Chief Scott Reese. “Look at this scene. I don’t know how you call it anything but a good day when everyone walks away from something like this with minor injuries.”