3 Dead, 5 Injured After Fiery Crash Involving Tractor-Trailer on Route 40 in Fayette County

A devastating crash involving two cars and a tractor-trailer left three people dead and five others hospitalized Tuesday night along Route 40 in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Investigators say the tractor-trailer was traveling eastbound when it crossed into the westbound lanes and collided head-on with a Ford pickup truck. The pickup then struck a Chevrolet Express van, also head-on.

The drivers of the tractor-trailer and the pickup truck, along with a front-seat passenger in the van, were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as:

Delroy Henry, 66, of Hollywood, Florida (tractor-trailer driver)
Nikki Jo Rugg, 31, of Markleysburg, Pennsylvania (pickup driver)
Michael Brown, 34, of Martinsburg, West Virginia (van passenger)

The five remaining passengers in the Chevrolet van were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Witness Marc Spagnola, who was driving to Maryland, described the scene as horrifying.

“I saw the glow of the fire and the flames were as high as some of the treetops,” Spagnola said. “I was like, ‘man, this ain’t good.’”

Photos from the crash showed debris scattered across the roadway and flames rising from the wreckage over a guardrail into a wooded area.

Route 40 was closed in both directions for several hours while crews cleared the scene. The crash occurred near Youghiogheny River Lake, along a notoriously steep and winding stretch of the road.

Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker called for a safety review of the dangerous roadway.

“This is becoming a public health problem,” Baker said. “It’s going to be my mission to stop all heavy interstate tractor-trailers on this two-lane road.”

Baker added that many truck drivers use Route 40 to avoid tolls, despite its tight curves and steep grades.

“The tolls are a little bit increased to go the longer route,” he said. “However, what price do we put on a life that’s lost because of a few dollars?”

The crash remains under investigation, though authorities say criminal charges are unlikely.