A state trooper investigates the scene of a fatal accident at the intersection of Routes 66 and 356 in Washington Township on Friday, August 17, 2012. Brian F. Henry | Tribune-Review
By Chuck Biedka
Published: Friday, August 17, 2012, 10:50?a.m.
Updated 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP ? Police say a tanker truck apparently pulled into the path of a northbound car on Friday morning at Route 66 and Route 356, causing an accident in which a Hempfield woman was killed.
Nicolette Rafalski, 48, died in the 8:20 a.m. accident at the intersection, according to Washington Township police and a deputy Westmoreland County coroner.
Police said Rafalski wasn?t wearing a seat belt.
The truck driver, Robert Hammer of Campbell Run Road,
Kittanning Township, wasn?t seriously injured, police said.
Police Chief Scott Slagle said the crash happened in a 45-mph zone and has numerous signs alerting drivers to the intersection, he said.
Slagle said state troopers are helping local police to reconstruct the accident scene and to inspect the truck.
?We know there was no alcohol,? Slagle said. ?It was overcast, but not raining. There were no roadway issues and no major malfunctions on the truck.?
Slagle said the fatality happened at an intersection once notorious for traffic deaths. Most serious accidents ended at the intersection when PennDOT turned a ?Y? intersection into more of a ?T? intersection.
Officers spent about five hours at the scene and more work is planned.
Police could not say how fast either driver was going, but the investigation may reveal that, Slagle said.
Rafalski?s autopsy was being conducted Friday afternoon.
The truck is owned by CWM Environmental Inc. of Kittanning.
Company owner Dave Kohl said in a phone interview that Hammer is a longtime, experienced and good driver.
Kohl said that he had been taking driver?s training from Hammer in order to get his commercial driver?s license.
?I know he is safe,? Kohl said.
Kohl said Hammer and the company?s 85 employees are saddened by the accident.
?I feel terrible for the victim and her family,? Kohl said. ?Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.?
The empty tanker was on its way to collect about 3,800 gallons of sewage from a treatment plant between Uniontown and Connellsville for disposal at a facility near Harmarville, he said.
Chuck Biedka is a staff writer with
Trib Total Media. He can be reached at
cbiedka@tribweb.com or 724-226-4711.
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