Three taken by medical helicopter in I-70 crash

By MEGAN TOMASIC

Trib Total Media

Three people were flown by medical helicopter following a crash Sunday morning along Interstate 70 in Rostraver Township, according to the Rostraver Central Fire Department.

Crews responded to the multi-vehicle crash along the Matthew Smelser Memorial Bridge, also known as the Smithton high-level bridge, shortly before 10:30 a.m., a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher said.

According to a post on the fire department’s Facebook page, one vehicle went over the side of the bridge. It was not immediately clear how far the vehicle fell. 

Crews worked to extricate one person from the vehicle and used a rope system to transfer the person to EMS waiting on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail.

Crews responded to another vehicle involved in the crash on top of the bridge, according to the dispatcher.

Three patients were transported by Rostraver West Newton Emergency Services and the Sewickley Township Community Ambulance Service to landing zones for transport by medical helicopter, officials with the fire department said.

Eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed between the Smithton and Route 51 exits for several hours. The road reopened shortly after 3 p.m., according to PennDOT.

Several volunteer fire departments assisted in the incident, including Smithton, Collinsburg, Turkeytown and Rostraver.