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24-year-old Uniontown man killed in Route 40 crash near scenic overlook

By Alyssa Choiniere achoiniere@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard

A 24-year-old driver was killed after his vehicle smashed into this stone wall along Route 40 in South Union Township at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. State police identified the driver as Gregory R. Hanzes of Uniontown.

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Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard

A Uniontown man was killed after his vehicle crashed through this stone wall along a Route 40 scenic overlook at about 11:30 p.m. Monday in South Union Township. State police identified the driver as Gregory R. Hanzes, 24.

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Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard

Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard A 24-year-old Uniontown man was killed after losing control of his vehicle on Route 40 and crashing into a stone wall at the scenic overlook at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. State police identified the driver as Gregory R. Hanzes.

A 24-year-old Uniontown man was killed in a high-speed crash that ended with a drop over a scenic overlook on Route 40 in South Union Township Monday night.

State police identified the driver as Gregory Ryan Hanzes.

Hanzes, who went by his middle name Ryan, was an Internet manager at One Stop Auto Group in Uniontown.

“He was a great employee, a great friend,” said Dave Howard. “I just can’t say enough good words about him.”

A witness to the crash, Amy Russell of Perryopolis, said she and her friend were watching for meteors at the overlook when the vehicle came “flying” down the road and crashed through the stone wall nearby.

“If we were about 5 feet back, he probably would have taken us too,” she said.

State police said Hanzes was driving west on Route 40 at about 11:30 p.m., when he lost control of his 2006 Honda Accord near Eunice Drive and hit a concrete median separating the east and westbound lanes. The force of the impact elevated the car onto the barrier and propelled the car forward, following the curvature of the road for a short distance, according to state police.

“All I saw were sparks coming out from the jersey barrier,” Russell said.

Tire tracks were visible on the side of the barrier Tuesday morning, and a corner was missing from the median several yards down the highway.

Police said the car was thrown from the the median into the opposing lane of traffic, then crashed into a stone wall on the edge of the overlook, where it careened 100 feet downhill before hitting a tree.

The wall was crumbled by the impact, and a trail of stones led down the steep drop-off.

Russell said she called 911. Her friend called down the hill. There was no response.

She said they were the only witnesses to the crash. She saw only one other vehicle on the road traveling ahead of Hanzes.

“I don’t think anybody would have even known he was down there until morning,” she said.

Russell said she was shocked and horrified by the crash.

“I feel so bad for the family. It’s a shame, and to be that young,” she said.

Howard said the company considered Hanzes a part of their family.

“It’s rough. We’re just dealing with it day by day unfortunately,” he said.

State police Trooper Robert Broadwater said speed was “definitely” a factor in the crash.

Hanzes died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Autopsy and toxicology results will determine if other factors contributed to the accident, Broadwater said.

Police said Hanzes was not wearing a seat belt.

Broadwater said a jersey barrier was placed along the crumbled wall after the crash.

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