Police have determined that a fatal wrong way car vs. tractor trailer crash that happened on Monday night in western Pennsylvania was suicide by truck.
Domestic Argument Leads To Suicide By Truck
The crash happened just after midnight in Ligonier Township. Police say that 39 year old James L. Fillman had argued with his wife and said that he was going to kill himself prior to driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of U.S. 30. He collided head on with a truck at high speed. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Trucker Attempts To Avoid Oncoming Car, But Fails
Police say that the truck driver did attempt evasive maneuvers to avoid Fillman’s vehicle, but there simply wasn’t enough time. The truck driver suffered minor injuries in the crash.
The crash also spilled about 800 gallons of diesel fuel onto the road. Hazmat teams were called in to clean up the fuel.
Since 2001, Fillman has faced various legal charges, including assault, terroristic threats, writing bad checks, and harassment.
Developing: RT-30 closed after driver dies in a wrong-way crash in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland Co near Idlewild pic.twitter.com/7wIvySRr8d
— Janelle Hall (@JanelleHallWTAE) April 26, 2016
Sources:
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penn Live
Go Erie