Dunbar man dies in Route 51 accident
FRANKLIN TWP. – A 30-year-old Dunbar man died after a two-vehicle accident on Route 51 Friday in which his vehicle crossed into the opposing lanes and struck a lumber company truck. Brian Keith Harbarger was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m. at the scene, located along a slight downgrade and bend in the road several hundred yards from Pizon’s Place.
The accident was reported to the Fayette County 911 Center at 11:34 a.m. Friday.
The investigating officer, trooper Tim Maloney of the Belle Vernon barracks of the state police, said Harbarger was northbound when he apparently lost control, crossed into the southbound lane and struck an O.C. Cluss Lumber Co. truck. The driver of that truck was identified as Garret Smith of California.
Police said that Smith sustained moderate injuries and complained of chest pains after the accident. He was flown to UPMC-Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for treatment.
Smith saw Harbarger’s car heading toward him and attempted to avoid a collision, but could not, Maloney said. Smith was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, said police.
Maloney said Harbarger was not wearing a seatbelt and may have lived if he had been.
More than an hour after the collision, the two vehicles, Harbarger’s blue four-door Ford Taurus and the lumber company’s orange 2000 GMC heavy-duty truck remained on the scene. The passenger side of the Taurus was caved in, marking the spot where the car struck the truck. Tire marks were visible on the spot where the car crossed the median and collided with the front driver’s side corner of the truck.
Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene, said police.
In addition to state police and the county coroner’s office, personnel from Smock, Flatwoods and Vanderbilt volunteer fire departments responded, as well as Perryopolis Area Ambulance Service.