UPDATE: The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office has announced more details on a fatal crash this morning on Route 217 just south of Blairsville this morning.
Coroner Timothy Carson identified the victim as 36-year-old Christopher Howe of Blairsville. He was the driver and lone occupant of a vehicle going North on Route 217 near Victory Street at 2:45 AM when he did not negotiate a right curve in the road cleanly. The vehicle crossed the centerline and went into the opposite lane, and went off west side of the road. The vehicle hit a guiderail, then overturned and came to rest after hitting a tree. Howe was thrown from the vehicle and it caught fire after initial impact.
Howe died of multiple blunt force injuries and his death was ruled accidental. While speed is believed to be the main factor in the accident, Coroner Carson noted that Howe was not wearing a seatbelt at the time.
Stuart Funeral Home in New Florence will be handling the funeral arrangements.
WHAT WE FIRST REPORTED:
One person was killed this morning in a crash in nearby Derry Township in Westmoreland County.
Reports say that the crash happened at 2:50 this morning on Route 217 about a mile south of Blairsville near the intersection with Gray Station Road. Initial reports said that the car went over an embankment and rolled onto its roof before catching fire.
The identity of the victim has not yet been released.
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