Oct 11, 2017 2 min read

A crash that closed both lanes of Interstate 79 south between the Canonsburg and Houston exits in North Strabane Township early Wednesday was just part of what proved to be a busy morning for township firefighters.

By late morning, fire Chief Mark Grimm said they had answered 10 calls, including two fender-benders, one on each side of the highway, in the area where a tractor-trailer rolled over about 5:40 a.m. Wednesday. That crash had closed the southbound lanes of the highway for about 90 minutes, causing traffic to back up about five miles in each direction.

The driver was going south just past the Canonsburg exit when he sideswiped an overhead bridge, went up a hillside and rolled over, Grimm said. A passenger, who suffered a minor injury, was able to get out of the cab but it took North Strabane and Peters Township firefighters about 15 minutes to free the driver. Grimm said the driver was injured, but he did not know the extent of his injuries. Both the driver and passenger were taken to Canonsburg Hospital.

Grimm said the rig was hauling bags of flour, which remained in the trailer and did not create a problem. The rig also was leaking fuel.

Canonsburg Ambulance also assisted at the scene. State police are investigating the crash, but had no information Wednesday afternoon.

Grimm said there also was a crash Wednesday morning on Route 519. North Strabane police are investigating.