SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — A Washington County man was killed when his vehicle crashed into a tractor trailer hauling thousands of gallons of gasoline late Thursday night along Interstate 79.

State police have identified the victim as 40-year-old Bradford Carter of Eighty-Four. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The accident happened just after 11:15 p.m. on the southbound side of I-79 in front of the Bridgeville rest area.

According to state police, Carter’s Volkswagen GTI “was traveling at a high rate of speed” when it hit the back of the tanker. The impact of the crash caused the vehicle to become lodged between the back tires of the tractor trailer, which then dragged the car to the side of the road.

Authorities say Carter’s vehicle ended up on fire, but the driver of the tractor trailer used a fire extinguisher and water to put of the flames.

State police say the tractor trailer was hauling more than 8,000 gallons of gasoline, but the flames never reached the tanker.

The accident closed down the highway for much of the overnight hours.

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