Penn Hills teacher dies after plunging down Parkway East hillside near Squirrel Hill Tunnel

The Penn Hills School District is mourning the loss of one of its longtime and beloved teachers.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Joshua Willy, 49, of Oakdale was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash Friday morning beneath a bridge in Pittsburgh’s Swisshelm Park neighborhood.

Willy worked in Penn Hills for 23 years.

The crash occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. when Willy’s Mazda 3 traveled over a Parkway East guardrail just west of Commercial Street, plunged down a hillside and came to rest in a creek.

School officials acknowledged Willy’s death on social media and the district’s website.

“Josh was a deeply valued colleague, and his tragic passing is felt by all of us,” Superintendent John Mozzocio said. “He was a wonderful teacher of AP World History and Honors Civics, and his work as our high school gifted students was exceptional. Please keep Josh’s family, friends, colleagues and students in your thoughts and prayers.”

School board president Erin Vecchio was in tears late Friday during a phone interview.

She said Willy greatly impacted a generation of students including her children.

“He was such a nice guy,” Vecchio said. “My kids all had him. This is really hard on me. The kids are going to be devastated. He was such a wonderful teacher. He was all about the kids, and these kids loved him. He was teacher of the month so many times.”

“We are communicating with Josh’s family, and we ask that you respect their privacy at this time,” a post on the school district’s website read in part. “If you or your child needs to speak with someone, we will ensure the necessary support is available. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this difficult time.”

Counseling will be available for students, families, staff and community members from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the high school.

Vecchio said there also will be pastors at the school for those who want to pray for the family.

Counselors are expected to be available next week starting Tuesday. The school is closed Monday for Martin Luther King Day.

Investigation ongoing

Willy was driving outbound on the Parkway East (Interstate 376) and had exited the Squirrel Hill Tunnel at 8:27 a.m.

The vehicle then “traveled over the guard rail” near mile marker 76, tumbled down a roughly five-story hillside and came to rest in part of the Nine Mile Run stream, according to authorities.

The crash scene is in the 1200 block of Commercial Street, a windy stretch of parkland that straddles Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill and Swisshelm Park neighborhoods.

A Parkway East bridge next to the hillside stands about 85 feet above Commercial Street.

Shortly after 1 p.m., crews pulled the car, a dark-colored 2024 Mazda 3, up the hillside from the creek with a large tow truck and construction vehicle.

State police said they are continuing to investigate the crash.

Michael DiVittorio and Justin Vellucci are TribLive staff writers.

Staff writers Julia Burdelski and Jeff Himler contributed