I-70 Crash Raises Concerns For North Franklin Officials

February 11, 2024 1:53 am

North Franklin Township Supervisor Chairman and the townships Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Sabot says he’s concerned that there will be environmental and possibly road damage after an accident Thursday morning that shut down Interstate 70 between the Chestnut Street and Taylorstown Exits.  One person was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after a crash involving a tanker tractor trailer and a car just after 2 a.m.  State Police say 48-year-old Eric Joseph of Florida lost control of his truck while traveling in the left lane of Interstate 70 eastbound and crossed the grass median and struck the car head-on in the westbound lanes.  Forty-four-year old Lewis Stiltner of Belle Vernon was injured and was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.  Hazmat crews were called to the scene to address the issues of chemicals that were leaking from the truck.  Sabot says he anticipates the clean-up to be a long process.  He says crews from various state departments, including the Department of Environmental Resources and the Fish and Game Commission are on site trying to mop up the leaking materials.  He says he’s concerned that the chemicals have gone into Chartiers Creek or neighborhood gas wells, and he’s also worried about possible damage to roads that are currently seeing heavy truck traffic.