Driver Hospitalized After Tractor Trailer Veers Off Road, Nearly Hits Restaurant

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A man was hospitalized Sunday afternoon after the tractor trailer her was driving veered off the road, nearly hitting a crowded fast food restaurant just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Harmar Township.

The accident happened just before 4 p.m. near Landings Drive.

Police say the tractor trailer was coming off of the Turnpike from the Harmarville exit when the truck went off the road on the right side towards the KFC restaurant on Freeport Road.

The truck went through a ditch and was headed towards the restaurant when it hit a light pole and then took a hard left turn, narrowly avoiding the building.

"First, it turned in and I thought it was going to crash into KFC right over there, and then it somehow became stable and turned off into the little ditch right there," said Nick Scott, a witness.

Police believe driver of tractor trailer may have suffered some sort of medical emergency which caused him to veer off road.

"We don't know what happened as of now, sounds like the guy was in a seizure or took a heart attack," said Officer Ryan Valasek, of Harmar Township Police.

The driver was the only person injured in the accident. He was taken to a local hospital by medical helicopter.

Officials said they believe he may have had some sort of jaw injury.

Meanwhile, crews at the scene were concerned because the tractor trailer was carrying a lot of fuel, but firefighters were able to safely remove it from the vehicle.

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