A three-vehicle crash last month on Route 22 in Salem that killed an 81-year-old man remains under investigation, according to state police.
John H. Meyer of Plum, who was a passenger in a Honda sport utility vehicle driven by his wife, Elinor, 79, was killed in the 10:29 a.m. Sept. 27 crash at the intersection with Route 819, according to state Trooper Joshua Abernathy.
Both Meyers were extricated from their vehicle and transported to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for treatment of multiple injuries. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office reported Meyer died Oct. 1 of blunt force injuries suffered in the crash.
According to a report released this week, Abernathy said the crash occurred as Vincent E. Fusca, 68, of Pittsburgh was driving a 2012 Ford passenger van eastbound in the left lane and approached a traffic signal at the intersection.
“(Fusca) was travelling at a speed where he was unable to stop for traffic stopped at the light,” Abernathy wrote.
Abernathy said the investigation showed Fusca swerved his van into the right lane and struck the Meyer sport utility vehicle. He said the force of the collision forced the Meyers’ vehicle into a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by Jacob Grosser, 20, of Mt. Pleasant, that was stopped in the left lane.
The accident report said both Fusca’s van and the Meyers’s vehicle flipped onto their sides.
Abernathy reported that Fusca was taken by ambulance to UPMC Pittsburgh East hospital in Monroeville, where he was treated for a minor injury. Abernathy said Fusca will at least be cited for careless driving as the investigation continues.
Police said Grosser was injured and treated at the scene. He was cited for driving on a suspended license, Abernathy reported.
All of the occupants in the vehicles were wearing seat belts, police said.
