Man identified in fatal Derry Twp. crash
A 77-year-old Blairsville man was killed Friday afternoon in a head-on collision along Route 217 in Derry Township, state police at Greensburg said.
Robert L. Cochran of Indiana Avenue was killed when his southbound sport-utility vehicle was hit by a northbound vehicle as it approached the area of Curnow Drive at about 5 p.m., state police said. Cochran suffered multiple blunt force injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 6 p.m. by the Westmoreland County Coroner.
Police said the northbound vehicle, operated by Kullen A. Gardner , 20, of Blairsville, crossed over into the southbound lanes, hitting Cochran’s vehicle. Cochran’s vehicle stopped on the southbound side of the road on an embankment,while Gardner’s vehicle stopped off the southbound side the road, police said.
A 77-year-old passenger in Cochran’s vehicle, who was not identified, was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh. Information on the passenger’s condition was not available.
Gardner sustained a minor injury and did not require additional medical treatment, police said.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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