RUSH TOWNSHIP – A 48-year-old Okauchee, WI man was airlifted to the Altoona Hospital with moderate injuries following a tractor-trailer accident Friday night along U.S. Route 322 approximately half-mile east of Strawband Beaver Road in Rush Township.
The Philipsburg-based state police identified the accident victim as Dean W. Prange, 48, of Okauchee, WI. He was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.
According to the report, Prange was traveling east at 5 p.m. in his tractor-trailer in a designated commercial vehicle reduced speed zone. The Prange tractor-trailer approached a left curve too fast and overturned before going over the guiderails and down a ravine.
The tractor-trailer came to a rest on its roof, state police said. It was hauling a load of empty pallets, which were strewn over the area after the trailer was torn open in the ravine. The tractor-trailer sustained severe damage in the accident.
Police were assisted at the scene by the Port Matilda Emergency Medical Services, the Hope Volunteer Fire Company and PennDOT.
