A man’s car hydroplaned on a stream of water crossing Route 380 moments before it hit a utility pole early Tuesday, Washington Township police said.
Richard P. Harrie Jr., 30, of Monroeville died at AHN Forbes Hospital, police Chief Scott Slagle said.
Officials said it took more than an hour to free Harrie from the wreckage.
The crash was reported at 6:40 a.m. on Route 380 east.
Slagle said a “stream of water, a real stream” was running across the road.
He said speed and “bald” back rear tires contributed to the wreck.
The impact caused the car to wrap around the pole, a witness said.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Harrie died from blunt force trauma.
Witness Tim Maksin, 36, of West Deer said he was driving in the same direction as Harrie.
Maksin said he tried to help the man and put pressure on a head wound.
“I know he had injuries from the waist down,” he said.
Numerous fire and rescue squads and police arrived soon after.
Maksin said two tow trucks were used to pull the wreckage away from the pole.
By 8 a.m., Harrie was freed and taken to the hospital.
Route 380 east was closed for a time as crews worked near the road’s intersection with Route 366. The road was reopened to traffic about 8:20 a.m.
A doctor from Allegheny County responded to the scene because LifeFlight couldn’t, officials said.
