Kiski Area grad died in wrong-way collision in Washington Township

A Kiski Area High School graduate studying to become a welder died Sunday in a wrong-way crash in Washington Township.

Zeth Reber, 22, of Washington Township died when his 2014 Honda Civic was hit head-on by a 2012 Dodge Caravan traveling the wrong direction on Route 380 in Washington Township.

Washington Township police Chief Scott Slagle confirmed Monday the van, driven by Abigail Jones, 23, of Carlisle, was going the wrong way, heading west in the eastbound lane.

The minivan had seven occupants and hit Reber’s car head-on near Route 780 in Westmoreland County around 4:30 p.m., police said.

Slagle said the minivan passengers were adults and called them “walking wounded” at the scene, meaning they were up and moving after the crash.

All of the passengers from the minivan, including Jones, were transported to Forbes Hospital with minor injuries.

It was the first fatal vehicular crash this year in the township, and Slagle said there were zero fatal crashes in 2020.

Slagle said he expects charges to be filed against Jones, pending the outcome of a scene reconstruction conducted by state police that is expected to take weeks to complete.

Reber was alone in the car and was wearing a seatbelt. He suffered multiple injuries, was entrapped in the car and died at the scene, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office.

Officials said the air bags deployed in Reber’s car. Cellphone use is not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Slagle said search warrants on both vehicles are in the works, and data from the recorders in the vehicles will reveal many factors, such as rate of speed and whether seat belts were in use.

According to the police report, one witness was on scene, but Slagle could not confirm whether that person witnessed the crash or came upon the scene after the crash.

Reber graduated from Kiski Area in 2017 and was a welding student at Northern Westmoreland Career and Technical Center.

George Kirk was Reber’s welding instructor at the vo-tech.

“It’s horrible, horrible news — to find out about Zeth,” Kirk said. “He was a great kid.”

Kiski Area High School Principal Chad Roland called Reber’s death “heartbreaking. … Zeth was a great student here and a successful member of the welding program.

“Zeth is remembered as a happy, fun-loving and hardworking young man who showed up and did his job as a student each day. He will be sorely missed as a member of our community and as an alumnus of Kiski Area High School,” Roland said.

Austin Woods, 24, of Vandergrift, said he read about Reber’s death on Facebook and was “shocked.”

Woods had been friends with Reber since the second grade, and they would often have lunch together at school.

“His goal was to be a welder,” Woods said. “He was a good soul and great to be around.”

Kiski Area Superintendent Misty Slavic expressed her condolences Monday.

“The district is saddened by the news of the tragic accident that took the life of one of our own. Our thoughts and prayers are with Zeth’s family and friends and all of those affected by his loss,” Slavic said.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Tuesday by Dr. Cyril Wecht.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and manner of death and toxicology results will take weeks to determine.

The crash resulted in a four-hour road closure of Route 380 in both directions.