3 injured in I-70 accident
Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 70 in South Strabane Township Tuesday afternoon.
State police said Michael Emil Berder, 63, no address provided, was driving west on I-70 about 2:45 p.m. and was observed swerving and nearly colliding with the jersey barrier on several occasions. Jenna Diane Tressler, 22, no address provided, attempted to pass Berder on the left side at mile marker 21 when Berder’s SUV struck her car twice.
Police said Berder lost control of his vehicle, which traveled through a guardrail and rolled several times down a hill, coming to rest upright in mud about 50 feet over the hill.
Berder and his 12-year-old passenger were not wearing seat belts and were thrown into the back seat of the SUV. Berder was flown to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital, Pittsburgh, and the girl was flown to Children’s Hospital of UPMC of Pittsburgh. Both suffered serious injuries.
Tressler was transported to Washington Hospital with moderate injuries.
Police requested a blood test for Berder; the results are pending lab analysis.