Christopher J. Negley dies in fatal Washington Township crash
Fatal Washington Township crash death of Christopher J. Negley – Obituary
Christopher J. Negley, 48, of Washington Township lost his life in a devastating collision on Route 66 early Thursday. According to the Westmoreland County Coroner, Negley was driving alone and was not wearing a seatbelt when his SUV, for reasons still undetermined, veered into the opposite lane, colliding head-on with a tanker truck.
The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. near a former state police station, south of the Route 66 and Route 356 split, as noted by Washington Township Police Chief Jason Montgomery. After the impact, Negley’s vehicle left the road and ended up in a ditch between Route 66 and Sportsman Drive. The truck’s driver was not injured, and the vehicle, a McCutcheon Enterprises tanker loaded with non-hazardous material, remained intact with no leaks reported.
Neighbor Jim Sandrovich, who witnessed the aftermath, described hearing the crash and seeing smoke, initially thinking a tree was involved. Other locals voiced concerns about the road’s history of accidents, particularly near the intersection with Pine Run Church Road and Sportsman Drive. Long-time residents like dentist Robert Obradovich noted multiple accidents in the area, some of which resulted in fatalities, and expressed worries for drivers’ safety.
Washington Township resident Charlie Elicker, who has lived near the area since 2016, said the frequency of severe accidents along this stretch has been concerning, with numerous crashes and some involving fatalities over the years.
Duster Funeral Home in Tarentum will be managing arrangements for Negley.