Driver Dies After Car Lands In a Creek in Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a fatal car crash in Pittsburgh on January 17.

According to news reports, the car had exited the Squirrel Hill tunnel on Parkway East around 8:30 a.m. Right before crossing the Commercial Street Bridge, the driver lost control of the vehicle, went over a steep embankment and plunged into the creek.

Emergency crews had difficulty accessing the crash site because of heavy machinery that was doing work under the bridge. When they were able to reach the vehicle, they found the driver had died and was still in the vehicle.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Fatal Car Accidents in Pittsburgh, PA

As one of the most populated areas in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh has seen its fair share of fatal car accidents. According to the latest statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Allegheny County is the top county in the Commonwealth to have the most reported traffic accidents. It is also on the top ten list to have the most traffic-related deaths in the state, second only to Philadelphia. This makes some sense considering Allegheny County is one of the counties that has the most miles of state highways in PA.

Fatal car accidents in Pittsburgh present complex cases that require careful investigation and deep understanding of Pennsylvania’s wrongful death statutes. Our firm often finds these cases involve multiple contributing factors – from the city’s challenging topography to weather conditions and infrastructure issues. When representing families who have lost loved ones, our Pittsburgh wrongful death attorneys focus on building comprehensive cases that consider all potential liable parties, from negligent drivers to governmental entities responsible for road maintenance and design.

These tragic cases often involve unique circumstances that require specialized expertise. For instance, accidents on our bridges and tunnels can raise questions about municipal liability and infrastructure maintenance. Munley Law frequently works with accident reconstruction experts who can analyze how Pittsburgh’s distinctive road features – like steep grade changes and complex intersections – may have contributed to the collision. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws mean we must carefully establish the degree of fault for each party involved, as this directly impacts the compensation available to surviving family members. Weather-related accidents, particularly common during our harsh winters, require demonstrating whether drivers failed to exercise appropriate caution for the conditions.

When pursuing wrongful death claims, we’re not just seeking compensation – we’re helping families understand what happened to their loved ones while working to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This often involves detailed investigation of road design, traffic signal timing, and maintenance records. We’ve found that many fatal accidents in Pittsburgh’s high-risk areas, such as the Route 28 corridor or the Liberty Bridge approaches, have commonalities that can inform both our legal strategy and advocacy for improved safety measures.

If you lost a loved one in a fatal car accident in Pittsburgh, our car accident lawyers are here to help. Contact Munley Law to schedule 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.