1 Dead After Crash On I-79 In Washington County
CECIL TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- One person is dead following an accident early this morning on Interstate 79 that caused major traffic delays in Washington County.
According to emergency officials, the crash happened just before 5:15 a.m. in the northbound lanes near mile marker 47 around the Southpoint interchange in Cecil Township.
Investigators say 40-year-old Stephen Haught of Canonsburg was driving northbound on I-79 when he lost control of his Dodge Ram 1500 and traveled off the road.
State police in Washington County say in an effort to get back on the road, Haught over-corrected, started traveling sideways across the lanes and went into the median.
The vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to a stop in the southbound lane.
Haught was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Washington County Coroner.
"911 told me that the individual driver rolled the car, went across the median, rolled his vehicle and was ejected," said Tim Warco, of the Washington County Coroner's Office. "When I arrived at the scene, obviously he was deceased."
State police say they believe speed may have played a factor in the crash.
During the morning commute, traffic came to a crawl as a result of the crash.
Northbound traffic was backed up at least three miles. State Police were forced to close the left lanes in both directions for two hours while they investigated and cleared the scene.
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