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PennDOT worker hit by car, rushed to hospital

MONONGAHELA, Pa. — A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation employee was rushed to Allegheny General Hospital Wednesday morning after being hit by a vehicle in Monongahela.

According to police, Ernie Crawford was hit by a vehicle on Fourth Street about 8 a.m. Crawford was working traffic control, according to PennDOT officials.

Investigators told Channel 11's Dave Bondy that they believe the 32-year-old woman driver who hit Crawford was blinded by the sun.

“The driver of the small truck was turning onto Fourth Street. She told our officers that the sun was in her eyes and she didn’t see the flagman. A witness said the truck was going slowly but struck the flagman and he fell to the ground,” Monongahela police Chief Brian Tempest said.

Crawford’s friend and co-worker Scott Cowley said he immediately ran to Crawford’s aid.

“He’s a good guy. This is a shame that it happened to him, but Ernie has always been a good fella,” Cowley said.

The incident is under police investigation, but Tempest said it doesn’t look like the driver will face charges.

“With the sun and the conditions, this meets the true definition of what an accident is,” Tempest said.

Officials at AGH said Crawford, who also works as a volunteer firefighter in Washington County, is being checked out for internal injuries. It’s unknown how long he’ll remain in the hospital.