Police Puzzled After Woman Dies Driving Wrong Way On Turnpike

A 36-year-old woman died after a crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Tuesday night, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office said.

Pennsylvania State Police said a sport utility vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes at about 9:20 p.m. between the Harmar and Monroeville exits.

Andrea Baker, of Monroeville, was driving a Ford Escape when it struck a tractor-trailer. The SUV was sent flying into the air by the impact and then crashed into the side of a second tractor-trailer.

Baker was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The head-on collision happened less than 2 miles from the Monroeville exit, but she was traveling away from Monroeville, investigators said.

Police said at least two cars passed her and called 911.

“I just can’t believe it because we were about eight cars back from the initial impact,” said witness Heather Lyle.

Channel 11 News drove to the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Gibsonia to talk to investigators who are puzzled at how the victim could have been driving the wrong way on the turnpike.

"I don't know how this could happen. I don't know how anyone could get turned around on the turnpike with so many barriers and markings,” said Sgt. Jerry Boulding of the Pennsylvania State Police. “I just don't understand. I'm afraid we might never understand."

While police are puzzled by how this could have happened, Lyle said signs directing traffic onto the turnpike aren’t as clear at night as they are during the day.

“The signs are hard to read because they aren’t lit up,” Lyle said. “I can see how it could become confusing.

A child in the SUV was also hurt, police said. The child's name and condition have not been released.

The eastbound lanes reopened at about 5 a.m. Wednesday after workers cleaned up diesel fuel.