FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa -- A crash involving two trucks on Interstate 70 in Washington County killed two people -- including an off-duty South Strabane Township police officer who was trying to remove debris from the road.

---

Channel 4 Action News Video:
RAW Video: Fatal Accident Closes Westbound I-70 In Washington Co.
Images: Fatal Crash On I-70 Stems From Stray Tire

---

State police said a tire had come off a pickup truck in the westbound lanes in Fallowfield Township shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, and a double tractor-trailer belonging to UPS struck the tire a short time later.

Forty-four-year-old Ronald Kennedy of Connellsville and 27-year-old South Strabane police Officer Nathaniel Burnfield were killed.

State police said the accident happened when Burnfield tried to retrieve a tire that was lying on the highway.

Burnfield "pulled his vehicle over immediately to be a good Samartian, a good police officer, knowing the danger of that tire lying in the road," Coroner Tim Warco said. "The young man is a good guy. I had breakfast with him about two to three times a week."

Kennedy swerved his truck to avoid the officer's car but instead struck Burnfield as the officer tried to get out of the road. Kennedy's truck then hit another truck that was on the side of the road.

Both men died at the scene.

Burnfield, of Washington, Pa., was returning home from a class when he saw the tire and tried to remove it from the roadway, state police said.

"The young man is a good guy. I had breakfast with him about two to three times a week." - Washington County Coroner Tim Warco

A tri-axle dump truck carrying rocks swerved to avoid Burnfield's police cruiser that was blocking the scene, but struck Burnfield and crashed, police said. The dump truck continued up a guardrail, striking the parked UPS tractor-trailer and overturned.

The driver of the dump truck, Robert Kennedy, 44, of Connellsville, died at the scene. The coroner's office said Burnfield died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma.

Burnfield recently turned 27. He is survived by his parents and two older brothers.

Traffic was allowed to pass intermittently by the crash scene in the left lane. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews had closed both westbound lanes at exit 32 and detoured traffic via Route 43.

Sky 4 reported at 6 p.m. that traffic was backed up from the accident scene to exit 32.

Refresh ThePittsburghChannel.com often and watch Channel 4 Action News for the latest updates.

---

Related Links:

• More County News
• Add Us To Your iGoogle Or My Yahoo Page
• Download Our Free Desktop Alert For Breaking News

---