I-70 Wrong Way Driver Turns In Self Following Crash
SOUTH HUNTINGDON (KDKA) – A wrong way driver has turned himself in after causing an accident on Interstate 70 Monday morning.
According to police, the accident happened near Exit 49 in South Huntingdon around 2:18 a.m.
Siva Stewart, 22, of Connellsville, was not alone in the Jeep Wrangler heading down I-70 the wrong way early Monday morning. And, as it turns out, she was not the one behind the wheel.
"We figured someone else was in the vehicle," says Trooper Stefani Plume, of Pennsylvania State Police.
That someone, 40-year-old Michael P. Brazzon of Perryopolis, was traveling west in the eastbound lane when police say his Jeep collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey minivan carrying five people from Illinois.
In the confusion after the crash, Brazzon took off, leaving his injured girlfriend behind.
"He left her in the vehicle, indicated that he was going to get help," said Trooper Plume. "He was unaware of what happened after he left the scene."
At Brazzon's last known address, a relative offered no comment.
Relative: "My wife told me not to talk to nobody."
KDKA's Mary Robb Jackson: "But is Michael here?"
Relative: "No."
"He actually had stayed in the Smithton area," said Trooper Plume. "He went to a residence, knocked on the door and basically asked for help."
Troopers picked Brazzon up around 7 p.m. Monday night. However, it was 17 hours too late to check his blood alcohol level.
"But we do have witnesses, you know, in the area that were able to confirm that he had been drinking prior to the crash," said Trooper Plume.
After being abandoned by Brazzon, Stewart got out of the Jeep at the crash site. She may have tried to go to him or was just disoriented.
At that moment, a tractor-trailer came bearing down on the accident scene hitting Stewart and killing her instantly. The truck driver never stopped.
"Sort of swerved to regain control after clipping the vehicle and hitting her," Trooper Plume said.
Brazzon was questioned and released, but after accident reconstruction investigators finish up, they'll talk to the district attorney about charges.
State Police in Belle Vernon would like to talk to anyone with any information about the newer looking white tractor-trailer, or its driver.
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