One dies in Luzerne mishap
One man died and another man was injured early Saturday morning in a head-on collision on ice-covered Craftmore Road in Luzerne Township near Allison, state police said. Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly identified the victim as 33-year-old Juan Jose Bell, whose address was not known, in a report released Saturday afternoon.
Fayette County Deputy Coroner John Kondrla pronounced Bell, the driver of one of the vehicles, dead at the scene at 4:58 a.m.
Reilly said Bell died of blood loss and blunt-force trauma to the head, face, chest and lower extremities. Reilly also took blood samples for standard toxicology tests.
Steve Campbell of Republic, the other driver whose age was not listed, suffered moderate injuries, according to police. Campbell was flown by helicopter to UPMC in Pittsburgh, where he was admitted. His condition was not available.
Police said the accident occurred at 2:39 a.m. when Bell’s car was traveling west on Craftmore Road, and he lost control of his car at the crest of an ice-covered hill. Bell’s car then traveled into the eastbound lane and collided head-on with the Campbell truck.
After the accident occurred, Reilly said Bell was trapped inside his car. With no signs of life and no opportunity for resuscitation, Kondrla pronounced Bell dead at the scene, according to Reilly’s report.