CLEARFIELD – Driver error and vehicle brake failure caused a tractor-trailer to crash in Lawrence Township July 18.
That information comes from Lawrence Township Police, which released the results of their investigation Monday morning.
Police determined that the driver, 43-year-old Vasile Muntean of Arizona, apparently lost control of the rig at about 5:05 a.m. on West Front Street in Clearfield near Race Street in part due to a poorly maintained braking system.
Police found that the driver, who had been detoured onto U.S. Route 322 from Interstate 80 due to a previous and unrelated tractor-trailer crash, failed to see the mandated truck pull-off at the top of the mountain prior to entering Clearfield.
The driver, traveling at highway speed and his subsequent attempts to slow the tractor-trailer, created additional stress on what police called a substandard braking system, which resulted in the failure.
Police also said the driver erred near the onset of the curve where the homes were struck because he changed lanes, further reducing his chance of properly completing the curve.
The driver’s rig, hauling 39,000 pounds of perishable goods, left the roadway, striking three occupied homes along Race Street.
No one in the homes was seriously injured. The driver of the tractor-trailer was trapped inside his vehicle that was buried in the wreckage of the second residence as rescue personnel worked for five hours to free him.
Police have reported that the driver has since been released from the hospital and is recovering from injuries.
Lawrence Township Police were assisted with the accident investigation by members of the Punxsutawney-based state police accident reconstruction unit and the motor carrier safety enforcement division.
Traffic-related charges have been filed against the driver, resulting in fines and penalties exceeding $3,000.
Police expressed their thanks to all agencies who participated in this situation from the volunteers to emergency rescue and investigative personnel. Officers also thank those who assisted the displaced families.