Two People Killed In Jackson Twp. Crash
JACKSON TWP. (KDKA) -- Two people are dead after a rollover crash along Interstate 79 in Butler County Friday morning.
The crash happened on the northbound side of I-79 in the area of mile marker 87, in Jackson Township.
State police confirm a man and woman were killed in the crash. They are identified as 63-year-old Russell Reed and 47-year-old Amy Horn.
Reed and Horn, both from Johnstown, were driving northbound near exit 88, when, for unknown reasons, their SUV careened out of control while going at a high rate of speed.
"The car stayed in the travel lanes and overturned," said Trooper Dan Kesten of Pennsylvania State Police. "Both the driver and passenger, neither of them had their seat belts on. They were ejected from the vehicle."
Not wearing seat belts is against the law. State police say this accident is a graphic demonstration of why it's so important to wear them.
"We always urge people to wear their seat belts. You never know what's going to happen as you travel down the roadway," said Trooper Kesten. "Those seat belts can prevent, and do prevent ejection from vehicles."
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State police don't know exactly what caused the SUV to roll since it never left the highway.
While the cause is still under investigation, speed is considered a factor.
Trooper Kesten has a warning for drivers now that the speed limit has been increased to 70 miles per hour on most major highways.
"Just because the speed limit went up to 70, understand that's a very fast speed," he said. "Any speed above that increases your chance for serious injury."
