Police suspect medical issue behind fatal Harmar crash at Route 28 exit

A medical condition is suspected in a crash that killed one man and seriously injured another in Harmar on Tuesday night, according to township police.

Robert Burkardt, 68, of Penn Hills was the driver in the crash on Route 910 at the southbound Route 28 exit that was reported to Allegheny County 911 shortly after 4:30 p.m.

Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office reported Wednesday evening that he died from blunt force trauma of the head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his manner of death was ruled accidental.

A male passenger, whose name and age were not available, was airlifted to a Pittsburgh hospital by helicopter, Harmar police Lt. Otto Gaal said. The man’s condition was not known, but he was still alive as of Wednesday afternoon, Gaal said.

Gaal said police learned that Burkardt and the passenger were friends, and Burkardt had given him a ride to Walmart. Despite his injuries, the passenger was able to make some statements to police, he said.

According to Gaal, Burkardt was driving south on Route 28 and took the exit to Harmar and Route 910.

Burkardt did not stop at the end of the ramp, where there is a traffic signal at Route 910, and instead accelerated at high speed. His vehicle went airborne over a guardrail and ended up down a wooded ravine.

While there was other traffic in the area, no other vehicles were hit or involved, Gaal said.

Gaal said there were no indications that Burkardt tried to stop or swerve as he drove down the exit ramp.

Police are awaiting autopsy results to confirm their suspicion that Burkardt had suffered a medical episode before the crash, Gaal said.

The exit from Route 28 to Route 910 was closed for several hours after the crash.