20-Ton Coil Kills Teen Cheerleader In Ford City CrashPOSTED: 9:01 am EDT March 26,
2008 FORD CITY, Pa. -- One person was killed and three were injured in an accident in Ford City, Armstrong County.The accident happened around 7:20 a.m. Wednesday on Route 66 near Pleasant View Drive in Manor Township. Armstrong County police said a large metal coil came off a tractor-trailer and struck a vehicle.  Update On Victims Video: Friends, School Mourn Loss Of CheerleaderShawna Petrosky, 17, was driving the vehicle and died when the 41,000-pound coil rolled over her car. Petrosky's brother, eighth-grader Eric "Bubba" Petrosky, was in the passenger seat and their cousin, Greg Heeter, was in the back seat. Both were flown to a Pittsburgh-area hospital. Neither appear to have life-threatening injuries.The victims were on their way to Ford City High School.Truck driver Sam Livengood, 44, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. He is expected to recover from his injuries."The boys are expected to be OK and so is the driver of the truck," said Lt. Tom Dubovi of the Pennsylvania State Police.Police said it appears as if Petrosky, a senior at Ford City High School, traveled through a blinking red light and collided with the truck, causing the coil to roll off the truck's bed. After her vehicle flipped, the coil rolled onto the car.The coroner said it's likely Petrosky would have survived the impact with the tractor-trailer and the rolling of her vehicle, but not the weight of the coil."She was an excellent student and involved in many activities," said Dr. William Kerr of the Armstrong County School District. "She was a member of the high school cheerleading squad. Ford City has a great deal of team spirit and Shauna was always there as part of the pride of Ford City High School."Counselors will be at the school for students, officials said."Just a beautiful girl. Good student," said principal Michael Cominos. "Just an all around good kid.""It's just a shock," said friend Zane Hassa. "They're all good kids. Shawna. I knew her. Unfortunately, she had to go." Related Links: More County NewsGet RSS | E-Mail Alerts Copyright 2008 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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