Teenage Girl Killed In Derry Twp. Crash, Driver Injured
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter
LATROBE (KDKA) --- A teenager was killed in a crash early Wednesday morning in Derry Township.
A Westmoreland County emergency official said a vehicle hit a utility pole shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Route 982, near Mission Road. The force of the impact sheared the pole and brought down power lines.
#UPDATE: The tow truck just removed the Mustang Convertible. You can see the severe damage on the passenger side of the vehicle. Police say the female victim was 17 years old and sitting in the passenger seat. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/iBJolseSQi
— Meghan Schiller (@MeghanKDKA) August 29, 2018
The victim has been identified as a 17-year-old Marissa Bolish. She was a senior at Derry Area High School.
Brandon Ritenour, 18, of Greensburg, was the driver. He was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Stephen Limani said the driver told police that he swerved in the moments before the crash.
"It appears that a deer possibly ran out in front of them, said Trooper Limani. "There were some evasive maneuvers that you could see were taken by the physical evidence on the roadway."
Limani said that Ritenour and Bolish were heading northbound on Route 982 when they crossed the center line.
"He lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle drove off of the left side of the road, collided with a telephone pole. Really close to where the passenger would be sitting inside the vehicle," said Trooper Limani.
The force of the impact sheared the telephone pole and brought down the power lines. Several communities were without power for most of the morning.
"Yeah, clear up to Bethel Church Road almost into Cook Township it killed the power," said Chief John Brasile, Latrobe City Fire Department.
Chief Brasile said that Ritenour removed Bolish and himself from the car, but she succumbed to her injuries.
"It's an older model Mustang and it's a convertible so all the damage appears to be on the passenger side of vehicle," said Chief Brasile.
Crews towed the Mustang away and will now examine the damage more closely at the State Police Barracks in Greensburg.
An autopsy will be performed Wednesday, according to Coroner Joshua Zappone's office.
Stay With KDKA.com For More Details
