A tragic three-vehicle collision resulted in the death of five individuals, including a baby, on the afternoon of March 26 along Route 40 near Wharton Township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The crash involved a black Honda Accord, a red minivan, and a tractor-trailer.
Following reports of a severe multi-vehicle crash, Pennsylvania State Police arrived at the site around 1:45 pm. The officers found the wreckage of the three vehicles, with a commercial truck involved in the incident. Images from the scene showed the black Honda Accord heavily damaged and against a barrier, with the red minivan and tractor-trailer stationary.
State Police Trooper Kalee Barnhart detailed that the investigation is still underway, with collision analysis reconstruction specialists participating to unfold the events leading to the crash. The Fayette County Coroner, Dr. Bob Baker, announced that the black Honda Accord, driven by Harold Nibert, 55, of Delaware, Ohio, crossed the double yellow line and collided head-on with the tractor-trailer.
The crash resulted in the death of all the Honda’s occupants, including the Honda driver Nibert, Bradley Thivener, 47, Krystal May, 36, Amanda Dawson, 33, and her seven-month-old son, Kullen Dawson. All the deceased were confirmed to be residents of Delaware, Ohio.
The operator of the commercial vehicle escaped unharmed, although he was evaluated by emergency medical services at the scene. Passengers in the other car involved suffered minor injuries.
Witnesses reported that the Honda attempted an illegal pass prior to the crash, suggesting that excessive speed may have contributed to the incident. This detail came as part of the ongoing investigation into the factors that led to the fatal accident.
Due to the crash, Route 40 was closed in both directions for several hours, causing major disruption. The road was not reopened until around 7 p.m. Stacy Kenes, a local resident, expressed her concerns, “This is a very dangerous road.” Her statement serves as a cautionary note to other road users.
The Pennsylvania State Police, in collaboration with other involved agencies, remain committed to determining the exact cause of the crash as their investigation continues.
