State Police: Wrong-Way Driver Killed, Another Driver Injured In I-79 Crash
WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) -- One man is dead and another man is injured after a wrong-way crash overnight on Interstate 79 in Washington County.
The crash happened just before 2 a.m. between the Canonsburg and Houston/Eighty-Four exits.
According to state police, alcohol was found in the 2008 Ford Focus of the man who was driving north in the southbound lanes of I-79. He crashed into a 2014 Hyundai Elantra headed south.
The Washington County Coroner's Office says the wrong-way driver died from his injuries. He was the only person in the car. Officials identify him as 57-year-old Darnell Hudson.
State police say toxicology results will determine if he had alcohol in his system.
"There was alcohol located in the Ford Focus. The driver of the Hyundai Elantra was a 28-year-old man from the Johnstown area," said State Police Tpr. Forrest Allison.
NEW: @PSPTroopBPIO tells us a 28-year-old man is currently in surgery. He is expected to survive. A 57-year-old man driving the wrong way died in the crash. Police say alcohol was found in his car. Toxicology results will determine if he had alcohol in his system.
— Amy Wadas (@AmyWadas) November 5, 2019
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is identified as Zachary Porta.
The southbound lanes were closed for much of the night for the investigation, but have since reopened to traffic.