Harrison man, 60, dies in Route 28 crash near Tarentum when car hits fire truck responding to previous wreck

A Harrison man was killed Friday afternoon on Route 28 when his car slammed into a Tarentum fire truck that was providing traffic control because of a previous accident near the Tarentum exit, state police said.

Jeffrey A. Wagner, 60, of Juniata Street, Natrona Heights, was killed when his northbound Ford Fiesta struck the back of a Summit Hose Company fire truck, according to state police.

Police said Wagner was driving too fast as he approached the scene of the previous accident, which was near the crest of a steep hill near Exit 14 near where Bakerstown Road crosses over the expressway.

Police said Wagner was in the passing lane behind a pickup truck as they approached the first accident scene shortly before 3 p.m. The pickup truck slammed on its brakes, police said, and Wagner swerved to avoid hitting the pickup. He went onto the berm where the Ford Fiesta he was driving struck the guardrail and then hit the back of the fire truck parked on the berm.

Wagner was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the fire truck was not injured, state police said.

CLEARED: Crash on PA 28 northbound between Exit 13 - Crawford Run Rd/Freeport Rd and Exit 17 - PA 356 South.

— 511PA Pittsburgh (@511PAPittsburgh) February 5, 2022

A man who answered the phone at the Summit Hose fire station Friday evening declined to comment.

Crews from Eureka Fire Rescue EMS were called to both accidents, but were called off the first crash because there were no injuries, said Jeff Heckman, shift lieutenant for Eureka Fire Rescue EMS. They then proceeded to the fatal accident scene, Heckman said.

Police diverted traffic off the highway at the Creighton Exit. The road was closed between the Russellton/Creighton (Exit 13) and Freeport/Millerstown (Exit 16) interchanges. The road was reopened around 7:40 p.m.

In addition to Eureka EMS, also responding were Summit Hose Company, Tarentum police, and several state police units.