Derry man died after crashing while suffering medical emergency
A Derry man died Saturday after crashing on Route 217 while suffering a medical emergency, according to authorities.
John Albert Eckert, 62, was driving in Derry Township just before noon when state police said his vehicle traveled off the road and hit a tree near Lois Lane.
Police said Eckert was believed to be having a medical emergency at the time. He was taken by ambulance to Excela Health Latrobe Hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room, according to deputy coroner Sean Hribal.
An autopsy was conducted Sunday.
“The natural disease is what probably caused him to leave the roadway,” but the injuries Eckert sustained in the crash were determined to be a contributing factor in his accidental death, Hribal said.
Eckert, an avid fisherman, was a retired school bus driver and previously worked in auto body repair, according to his obituary. He and his German shepherd were trained in search and rescue and visited Excela Health Latrobe Hospital patients through a pet therapy program.
John J. Lopatich Funeral Home in Latrobe is handling arrangements.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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