Two people killed in fiery accident on Rt. 22 in Indiana County

INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. — Multiple fire departments, hazmat and state police were called to the scene of a fatal accident that forced the closure of Route 22 east in Indiana County Sunday night.

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The accident happened in West Wheatfield Township.

According to the Indiana County coroner, 30-year-old Matthew Hess of Girard and 56-year-old Richard Kenneth Lowers Jr. of New Florence were killed.

Hess and Lowers were both traveling eastbound when Hess rear-ended Lowers as he was attempting to turn right onto Clay Pike Road.

Lowers' vehicle burst in to flames and Hess's vehicle crossed the highway into the path of a tractor-trailer, striking it head-on.

Both the tractor- trailer and Hess's vehicle caught fire.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to a nearby hospital.