Volunteer Firefighter Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Westmoreland County

SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A West Newton woman who worked as a volunteer firefighter died late Monday night in a single-vehicle crash in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County.

According to the coroner's report, 19-year-old Theresa Sager died from multiple blunt force injuries.

Sager lost control of her pickup truck going around a curve on Herminie-West Newton Road after 10 p.m. Monday.

The truck struck a tree in a residential yard and flipped onto its roof.

"Heard a vehicle coming down the road at a high rate of speed, couple seconds later, I heard some screeching and a loud bang," said Nick Gottron, a witness.

Gottron was one of the first people on scene after the crash. His mother, a registered nurse, tried to get to Sager by any means necessary.

"She went and got a hammer, smashed all the windows out," said Gottron.

But Sager was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner's office ruled her death accidental.

Sager worked as a volunteer firefighter with the Hutchinson VFD.

Fire Chief Bill Dull said he recognized Sager's pickup truck when he responded to the accident report.

"We knew whose truck it was. At that point in time, we had a job to do," said Chief Dull.

By Tuesday afternoon, Sager's gear was sitting out front of the fire station, and a black mourning ribbon was tied above the entrance. Her co-workers say she was a hard worker, kind person and she will be missed.

"No matter what we were doing, she could make us smile," said Chief Dull. "She was an all-around good person, always there when we needed her. When she was here, she was here and her whole heart and soul was in it."

The coroner's report states she was not wearing a seatbelt and airbags did not deploy.

While speed is believed to have played a part in the accident, the investigation into the crash continues.

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