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Route 422 Tractor-Trailer Crash Brings Morning Commute To A Halt

CLEARFIELD TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A tractor-trailer crashed and flipped over, which created big problems for drivers in Butler County this morning.

Traffic was brought to a standstill around 3:30 a.m. on Route 422 in Clearfield Township.

The road was shut down in both directions, shortly after the driver flipped the truck while swerving to miss a deer.

"He was hauling scrap steel. The load I believe shifted and then he rolled over onto his side, sliding down the road," East Butler Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Hesidenz said.

The driver of the truck was taken to Kittanning Hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries.

One other driver was involved, but was not hurt.

"An individual going east, didn't see all the debris laying on the road, ran over the steel and damaged his vehicle," Hesidenz said.

Cleanup at the scene was not easy as it took over six hours.

Tons of steel toppled from the truck out on to all four lanes of the highway and over a hillside.

The metal actually ripped right through and over the guardrail.

Crews brought in equipment with a huge magnet to retrieve all of the scrap.

Another issue was the large amounts of engine oil and diesel fuel which also spilled onto the road.

The road finally reopened around 10 a.m.

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