Man Killed in Vehicle Crash With Dump Truck in Westmoreland County

A man has died after a car collided with a dump truck carrying a construction vehicle in Westmoreland County on January 13.

According to news reports, the accident happened at Broadway Street and Liberty Avenue around 8 a.m. on the border of Westmoreland City and Manor Borough. The 86-year-old man was driving an SUV with his wife as a passenger before colliding with a dump truck carrying a construction Bobcat on a trailer. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

His wife was trapped for a time after the crash but was rescued by emergency personnel. She was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for treatment. Her condition is not known.

Both were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident, and airbags had been deployed.

Police are investigating to see how the accident occurred.

Dump Truck Accidents in Pennsylvania

The dump truck service industry is growing substantially, with over 28,000 businesses operating across the United States. While this growth supports construction and development, it also increases safety concerns as more dump trucks share the roads with other vehicles.

The sheer size difference between dump trucks and passenger vehicles creates inherent dangers. A typical dump truck weighs 56,000 pounds empty. It can carry an additional 28,000 pounds of material, bringing its total loaded weight to 84,000 pounds—30 times heavier than an average 2,800-pound car and 4,200 times heavier than a bicycle. This massive weight disparity significantly increases the potential for severe or fatal injuries in collisions.

The nature of dump truck cargo presents additional hazards. Unlike enclosed trailers, dump trucks carry loose materials like rocks, dirt, and debris in open beds. During accidents or sudden stops, these materials can spill onto roadways or be flung from the truck, creating dangerous conditions for nearby vehicles and pedestrians.

Construction sites where dump trucks frequently operate compound these risks. These locations are already hazardous environments, with heavy machinery like cranes, bulldozers, and cherry pickers. Construction workers on foot, raw materials, and high noise levels create a complex environment where accidents can have cascading effects. The busy, noisy atmosphere can distract drivers, while any collision has the potential to interact with multiple other hazards present on the site.

If you were involved in a dump truck accident, it’s best to speak with an experienced dump truck accident lawyer to learn what to do next. Contact Munley Law for a free consultation.

Note: Our team of writers uses secondary sources to produce this post, including local and state media and news sources, regional and state police incident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents in Pennsylvania. For that reason, if you find any information that is not correct, be sure to contact Munley Law as soon as possible so that we can update the post with the most exact information available. A post will be removed upon request. All information in this post is informational and not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.