PLUMCREEK TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A fatal crash in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County, shut down part of Route 422 in both directions Thursday.
The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Thursday near Farster Road. State police troppers said ice and snow contributed to the crash.
Route 422 was closed between Margaret Road and Route 210, but reopened shortly before 1 p.m.
State police said a woman, later identified as Mary Anne Shaffer, 56, of Kittanning, was driving a minivan on Route 422 when she lost control on the snow-covered road and slid into the path of a tractor trailer. Authorities said they believe Shaffer was coming around a bend and hit a patch of ice.
“The roads are really bad this morning. It was icy and snowy and that really played a part in this,” said Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers.
Shaffer was pronounced dead at the scene. Myers ruled that the cause of death was "blunt force trauma to the head and thorax."
Big rigs sat while police investigated the deadly accident for more than five hours.
“I do want to remind people to wear their seat belts,” said Myers. “This woman was not wearing hers. It might have saved her life.”
WPXI
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