WEST MEAD TWP., Pa. (EYT) – State Police in Meadville are investigating a fatal crash involving a PennDOT plow truck that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Meadville woman on Friday evening.
According to Trooper Bryan Carlson, the incident occurred around 7:11 p.m. on Friday, December 6, in the 21400 block of Star Route (SR 27) in West Mead Township, Crawford County.
The victim has been identified as Nicole Smith.
Smith was walking east on the westbound shoulder of Star Route when she was struck by the plow blade of a PennDOT truck traveling west. She was killed instantly, according to PSP Meadville.
State Police in Meadville indicate the plow truck was operated by a 51-year-old Espyville man.
A published article in The Meadville Tribune reports Crawford County Coroner Eric Coston stated Smith was likely walking from a nearby bus stop to her residence in the 21400 block of Star Route when the incident occurred.
The Meadville Tribune reports Smith was wearing dark clothing with her hood up and was walking on the northern edge of the road.
Coston pronounced Smith dead at the scene at approximately 7:55 p.m., citing blunt force trauma to the head and face as the cause of death, according to The Meadville Tribune.
It was noted the temperature was approximately 28 degrees at the time of the crash, which occurred nearly 2.5 hours after sunset.
The newspaper indicates that while no autopsy is planned, toxicology testing will be performed with results expected in four to five weeks, according to the coroner.
The investigation is ongoing.